FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a suspected car thief turned kidnapper after police said he took off in a woman’s car with her 2-year-old child in the back seat.
Police said they received a tip that led to the suspect, who was allegedly seen in surveillance video of the incident.
“The guy that jumped in the car and drove off with my child in the car,” said the woman whose car was stolen.
The suspect is accused of having stolen the woman’s car from a Chevron gas station on West Sunrise Boulevard on Monday.
“Oh my God… Please… (unintelligible) my car!” the woman screamed over the phone.
She practically threw herself in front of her own car after the thief jumped behind the wheel and took off from the gas station.
She got into a car with a passerby and chased him into a nearby neighborhood, calling 911.
“It’s a burgundy Honda! Burgundy Honda! On Northwest Third Court!” she screamed.
“I’ve seen two cars speedin’ with each other,” said a witness.
“He’s driving around the street somewhere (unintelligible)!” the woman said.
The man got out of the car, leaving behind the car and the baby, who was OK.
Police caught up with the accused thief, who they identified as 19-year-old Lavincent Fisher, on Tuesday outside a home less than a mile away from the gas station. He was no longer wearing the jersey he was seen wearing on Monday.
Surveillance video had recorded Fisher waiting around inside the gas station while the mother was at the counter.
Moments after the theft, the clerk called 911 as well.
“She nearly like, she damn near… ran her over,” the clerk said. “She dropped her purse, everything.”
Later, the mom said she did what any parent would do.
“Lesson learned. Lesson learned,” the mother said. “It’s still crazy people out here, lesson learned.”
And by “lesson learned,” police said the keys were still inside the car along with her daughter.
Fisher is sitting behind bars and faces several charges, including carjacking, kidnapping and grand theft auto.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.