Man charged in Port Richmond attempted abduction

PORT RICHMOND (WTXF/AP) - Authorities say they have arrested and charged a man in connection with an attempted abduction in Port Richmond Tuesday night.

Undercover officers learned a woman working retail at a store in the Port Richmond Village strip mall, near I-95's Girard Avenue exit, was being targeted at about 8pm Tuesday.

Because of the tip, plain-clothed officers were at the shopping center, watching, as a red Jeep Cherokee pulled up. Police say two men got out from the back and grabbed the victim as she was walking from work to her car.

According to police, two people forced her into the back of her own Toyota Camry and drove off. Police say they allegedly threatened to kill her or her children if she didn't keep quiet about what they had been doing.

Police say the Jeep followed but police decided to go after the car with the victim. That didn't last long because the driver lost control and crashed the victim's car. Police were able to nab one suspect. The Jeep got away with a woman believed to be driving.

As for the victim, she was not physically harmed.

The attackers had said they had her children, which was not true. They are OK.

Chief Inspector Scott Small told FOX 29's Steve Keeley they're looking for at least three or four others who were involved, since four to five people were in the Jeep.

They have good descriptions of everyone involved, plus surveillance video and the Jeep's license plate number. Also, some of the plain-clothed officers who got the tip are familiar with some of the group.

Police are waiting at the address where the Jeep is registered, outside Philadelphia, to catch others from the group and possibly solve some home invasions.