Woman jumps from moving vehicle after being kidnapped, suspect arrested

A woman leapt from a moving car to escape a man who allegedly kidnapped her at knifepoint in Vancouver when she stopped to give him some water.

The incident took place at 4.30am on Saturday morning about 20 miles east of Portland, Oregon. Law enforcement officers from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call reporting an ongoing trespassing, according to a statement published by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

“The caller stated that a female was banging on the door saying that she had just jumped from a moving vehicle after being kidnapped,” the statement read. “Deputies arrived on scene and contacted a female in the front yard who appeared in distress.”

Police confirmed that the woman, who remains unnamed, informed law enforcement officers on scene that while she was near Mill Plain Boulevard and Grand Boulevard, which is approximately 12 miles west of where she was eventually found by police, a man approached her vehicle and asked her if she could give him some water.

“She helped the male out by providing him some water and then allowed the male to get into her vehicle,” said Clark County Sheriff’s Office. “Once in the vehicle, the male produced a knife and used the threat of violence to take control of the car and then drove with the female victim to the area of NE 28th Street.”

The woman then said that she took the opportunity to jump out the car when it slowed down on a dirt road. The woman then started knocking on doors to try and get help.

A resident, Jamie Woods, told NBC affiliate KGW of Portland, Oregon, that he and his family awoke around 4:30 a.m. to the sound of the woman hammering on the back door of his home and turning the door knob.

“She was desperate to get in, which I can understand,” Woods told the station. “She told me that someone tried to kill her and someone stole her car.”

Woods told KGW that he called 911. After deputies searched the area and found the car, the driver fled, according to the release.

Authorities in Washington State have identified Jeremy Alexksa, 31 as a suspect and he has been arrested and charged. The sheriff’s office said they expect Alexksa to be charged with kidnapping, robbery and attempted eluding, after he allegedly fled from officers.