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Arrest Made in Westfield Topanga Mall Kidnapping And Rape
Surveillance photo of the suspect in the kidnapping and rape of a mall employee. (Photo courtesy of LAPD)
A 19-year-old Lancaster man was arrested today in the July 4 kidnapping and assault of a female employee of the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park.
Kioki Ray Snowden was arrested on Thursday and was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, the Los Angeles Police Department told City News Service. He's being held on $1 million bail at the Van Nuys Jail.
About 5:30 p.m. on July 4, the woman was standing near her car in the mall parking lot when she was approached by a man armed with a knife.
He forced her into her car at knifepoint and held her hostage for about three hours, sexually assaulting her and forcing her to drive him around the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles.
He also used her ATM card to withdraw money from her bank account. He also reportedly stole other items from her, some of which were presumably found as part of the evidence at his house when police served their search warrant.
On Monday, police released surveillance photos of the suspect at a gas station.
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