Suspect Arrested by UCLA Police
On Oct. 13, UCLA Police arrested a Santa Monica man believed to be responsible for the carjacking and kidnapping of a man on campus earlier this month.
Jason Levi Garza, 42, was pulled over at 1 p.m. on Oct. 13 near his house in Santa Monica and taken into custody without incident, said UCLA Police Department Sgt., James Echols.
Investigators believe Garza carjacked and abducted a man on campus in the predawn hours on Oct. 3 as the man was walking near the Center for Health Sciences building. The man, who is not a student at UCLA, was held hostage for four hours before the kidnapper released him.
Police have not said why the kidnapper held his victim hostage for four hours before releasing him.
“We’re continuing to investigate,” said Echols.
The victim, a man who was not affiliated with the school, was abducted about 5:30 a.m. near the Center for Health Sciences building and held for about four hours before being released unharmed, police said.
Police recovered the victim’s carjacked vehicle, a 2007 Subaru Impreza, earlier this week.
“The excellent investigation by the men and women of our department led to evidence that provided leads in making this arrest possible and our community safer,” said Manny Garza, interim chief of the UCLA police force.
