July 7, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Man allegedly kidnaps Pacific Palisades woman, causes intentional car crash and injuries

 

The intentional collision left two people seriously injured. (Thinkstock)
The intentional collision left two
people seriously injured. (Thinkstock)

A man allegedly kidnapped a Pacific Palisades woman, who intentionally crashed the car she was forced to drive, then took a second vehicle from a nearby home before causing a collision that left two people seriously injured on Monday. 

Several other collisions caused by the suspect had northbound traffic backed up for miles Monday morning.

The series of crimes started about 7:40 a.m., when the suspect broke into a home in the 100 block of Marquez Place, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Don Montelibano of the West Los Angeles Station told City News Service. 

In that residence, he forced an elderly woman, at knifepoint, to drive him to some location in the San Fernando Valley,” Montelibano said.

Instead, the woman he allegedly kidnapped deliberately crashed her car at a construction site near Palisades High School to try to get away.

“After that car crash, he then carjacks a young woman, takes her Toyota and continues driving north but then he crashed that car into four parked cars on Livorno Drive,” Montelibano said.

From there, he said, the suspect broke into a second home, forcing the residents to give him the keys to a Lexus, which he began driving north on Pacific Coast Highway. Soon, however, the Lexus crashed into two other vehicles, Montelibano said.

Sheriff’s deputies chased the suspect after he drove past the Los Angeles city limits, said sheriff’s Lt. James Royal, watch commander at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station.

“We were notified by the LAPD that a suspect in a stolen vehicle that may have been involved in a robbery and kidnapping was last seen heading in our direction,” Royal said.

A call was then received from a motorist on Pacific Coast Highway “who told us he was involved in a car crash with a vehicle that fit the suspect’s car description,” Royal said.

The suspect fled that accident site and started driving north on Malibu Canyon Road, Royal continued. These events prompted the sheriff’s department to shut down Malibu Canyon Road from Seaver Drive to Pacific Coast Highway and to close Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road, Royal said.

“A short distance from the PCH accident site, the suspect had another car crash, but at that point our deputies caught up to him and took him into custody,” Royal said. “We then passed him on to the LAPD for booking.”

The second car crash on Malibu Canyon Road left two a woman and her son injured. They were airlifted to a hospital, Montelibano said.

The suspect, identified as Brian Cruz, 45, by the Los Angeles Police Department, was then taken to a hospital for injuries he suffered in the crashes, Montelibano said.

“We are waiting for him to be released so we can book him,” Montelibano said.

According to Montelibano, Cruz faces a myriad of charges that includes two home invasions, a kidnapping charge, carjacking and three auto thefts.
“I don’t know why he did all of this,” Montelibano said. “The only thing I heard was that he was either mentally ill or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. We definitely need this guy off the street.”

Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...