Man Suspected of North Hollywood Kidnapping Attempts Arrested

A La Crescenta man was arrested Friday for allegedly trying to kidnap several women during a crime spree throughout the day that began in North Hollywood and ended in his neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Jason Kies, 37, was booked on eight felony counts, including suspicion of trying to force at least two women into his car with the intention of sexual assault, but they managed to fight back and escape, police said.

"There's a lot of things that happened that went right for the victims," said Capt. Justin Eisenberg of the North Hollywood Community Police Station during a Tuesday press conference. "Each one of his victims refused to surrender."

The spree began in North Hollywood on Friday around 8 a.m., when Kies allegedly tried to strong-arm the first victim into his GMC SUV on Ben Avenue between Hesby Street and Addison Street, Eisenberg said.

She managed to fend him off and run away, he said.

Kies reportedly headed to a Marshall's Department Store in Studio City at noon and allegedly got into a scuffle with a store security guard while trying to steal women's lingerie, Eisenberg said.

The captain said witnesses were able to take down the suspect's license plate number as he fled the scene.

Around 1 p.m., Kies proceeded to Tujunga Avenue and Sarah Street in Valley Village where he allegedly assaulted a female jogger and tried to force her into his car, Eisenberg said.

She also succeeded in fending him off.

Throughout the afternoon, North Hollywood detectives were able to identify the suspect, said Lt. Alan Hamilton. 

Robbery homicide division detectives spotted Kies in La Crescenta and placed him on surveillance, but moved in for the arrest around 6 p.m., when he was spotted following a lone female jogger on a side street near the 210 Freeway, Hamilton said.

Kies was taken into custody without incident. He reportedly had a knife on him, but did not use it over the course of Friday's events, Hamilton said.

The lieutenant added there may be at least one more potential kidnapping victim that escaped safely and urges her to come forward.

Following Kies' arrest, detectives have learned that the suspect may have a history of attempted kidnappings, including one of an elementary school-aged girl in the San Fernando Valley, Hamilton said.

The suspect is being held on $4 million bail.