Woman kidnapped by ex rescued after friend tracked her down using Find My iPhone, US cops say

A woman’s friend used an iPhone app to help authorities locate her after California police said she was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend.

A woman told police that her distraught ex-boyfriend came to her work in El Monte armed with a firearm shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, the El Monte Police Department said in a news release.

He argued with her before the situation “escalated,” police said.

According to police, the woman’s ex-boyfriend forced her into her own car, drove away and did not allow her to leave.

The woman called a friend, who contacted law enforcement.

Friend used Find my iPhone app and reported the woman’s location to officials, police said.

Shortly after, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter spotted the woman’s car on Interstate 5 and alerted the California Highway Patrol, police said.

CHP employees tried to stop the car; however, the driver did not stop, leading to a 21-mile pursuit, according to police.

Officers installed spike strips near the 405 Freeway that poked holes in the vehicle’s tires and forced it to stop, police said.

The woman was not injured, but the ex-boyfriend was taken into custody, police said.

The case will be referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether to charge the man with kidnapping and felony eluding, police said.

El Monte is about 14 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service