South Austin Man Charged With Kidnapping Men He Forced To Drive Him

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- A carjacking suspect is being accused of forcing a pair of men at gunpoint to drive him to his South Autin destination after his request for a ride was declined.

Police say Jacob Robert Vasquez, 31, asked two men for a ride outside a Walmart store at 710 E. Ben White Blvd. on Feb. 27, the Austin American-Statesman reports. The encounter came at around midnight, while the two victims were loading their groceries in the vehicle.

When the two men declined his request for a lift home, Vasquez is alleged to have pulled out what appeared to be a revolver. He climbed into the back seat after storing his own store items in the car, according to an arrest affidavit.

He proceeded to give the men directions to his destination, police said. Upon arriving at his destination, Vasquez retrieved his store-bought items, climbed out of the vehicle and slammed the door shut.

Vasquez threatened of his captives when a comment was made about the door being slammed, the affidavit reads. Then, Vasquez got back into the car and had one of the men drive him around a little more for good measure, according to the narrative of the affidavit.

Vasquez is further alleged to have taken wallets and cellphones from his victims before forcing them to exit the vehicle, in which he then drove off.

Police caught up with Vasquez the next day when a convenience store worker called 911 to report a man who appeared to be high and armed.

Police were able to identify him as the suspect in the carjacking because he was driving his victims’ stolen vehicle. The firearm Vasquez used ended up being a pellet gun, police later said.

Vasquez is currently behind bars at the Travis County Jail as a result, charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.