Los Angeles:  Van Nuys detectives are asking for the public's assistance in locating 32 year-old Brian Thomas, a fugitive from Louisiana.

On October 11, 2005, at 7:40 p.m., Officers from Van Nuys Division responded to a radio call at the 7300 block of Woodley Avenue.  The suspect Brian Thomas, 32 years of age, male Black, 6'4" tall, 180 lbs., black hair, brown eyes, with a tattoo of a basketball on his right arm, was apprehended earlier in the day by a Louisiana Bail Bondsmen.  Thomas escaped from the bondsmen while handcuffed.

Within minutes of Thomas' escape, he carjacked and kidnapped a 23 year old female Hispanic from a gas station at Sherman Way and Woodley Avenue.  As the victim was driving, Thomas allowed her to call her boyfriend.  She was able to tell her boyfriend of the last location she was at and the boyfriend responded to the area.  The boyfriend was able to intercept the victim and the suspect at Burbank Boulevard and the San Diego (405) Freeway.  A California Highway Patrol officer saw a commotion and stopped to investigate.  The suspect ran from the location still in handcuffs.

A photograph of Thomas is available upon request at Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.

Anyone with information is asked to call Van Nuys Detectives at 818-756-8495.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

UPDATE

Los Angeles:  On October 14, 2005, at about 4:00 a.m., Brian Thomas turned himself into a bail bondsmen in the City of Inglewood.  Thomas was taken into custody and transported to Van Nuys Jail.  He is facing charges of "Kidnapping during Carjacking" and bail is set at $1,000,000.

On October 11, 2005, at 7:40 p.m., Officers from Van Nuys Division responded to a radio call at the 7300 block of Woodley Avenue.  The suspect Brian Thomas, 32 years of age, male Black, 6'4" tall, 180 lbs., black hair, brown eyes, with a tattoo of a basketball on his right arm, was apprehended earlier in the day by a Louisiana Bail Bondsmen.  Thomas escaped from the bondsmen while handcuffed.

Within minutes of Thomas' escape, he carjacked and kidnapped a 23 year old female Hispanic from a gas station at Sherman Way and Woodley Avenue.  As the victim was driving, Thomas allowed her to call her boyfriend.  She was able to tell her boyfriend of the last location she was at and the boyfriend responded to the area.  The boyfriend was able to intercept the victim and the suspect at Burbank Boulevard and the San Diego (405) Freeway.  A California Highway Patrol officer saw a commotion and stopped to investigate.  The suspect ran from the location still in handcuffs.

A photograph of Thomas is available upon request at Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.

Anyone with information is asked to call Van Nuys Detectives at 818-756-8495.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).