The pursuit of an allegedly stolen SUV in Victorville Wednesday morning resulted in a man’s arrest and the discovery that his female passenger had been kidnapped, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.
Harvey Gobert, a 41-year-old Victorville resident, was spotted “travelling at a high rate of speed going eastbound over the I-15 overpass and Nisqually Road,” and his mid-sized SUV had been reported as being embezzled from a Victorville car rental business, authorities said in a news release.
Gobert did not yield to a traffic stop, instead leading deputies on a pursuit into the Casa Bella apartment complex, where he “continued to drive recklessly inside the apartment complex, driving in circles and speeds of over 40 mph,” the SBSD said.
It was at this point that “a passenger inside the vehicle placed her hands outside the window waving for help” and “a witness heard the passenger shouting she needed help because she was kidnapped,” officials added.
Eventually, Gobert and his passenger exited the SUV and were taken into custody after a foot pursuit.
Gobert was booked into the High Desert Detention Center on charges of kidnapping, embezzling a rented vehicle and felony reckless evading, as well as an outstanding warrant on a felony charge of making criminal threats.
He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail on the charges related to the pursuit, plus $30,000 on the warrant, according to jail records.
He’s due to appear in Victorville Superior Court on Friday afternoon.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to call 760-241-2911 or 760-956-5001.
To remain anonymous, call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or visit wetip.com.