Lethbridge Police station. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Man reportedly kidnapped in Lethbridge Sunday night

Oct 21, 2019 | 11:39 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – UPDATE (2:55 pm): Lethbridge Police are still looking for the kidnapping suspect.

In the McDonald’s parking lot on 444 Mayor Magrath Drive North around midnight, a man was in his vehicle and was approached by another vehicle.

A suspect, unknown to the victim, got into the victim’s vehicle, brandished a large machete, and forced the victim to drive to various locations in Lethbridge while the suspect remained inside with him.

Inspector Jason Walper says the suspect held the machete to the victim’s throat as he drove.

“The victim was forced to drive to a bank ATM where he was forced to withdraw cash from his own account, and also drive to the Supervised Consumption Site where the suspect spoke with a person who has been identified and not yet located or spoken to by investigators,” reads a media release from Lethbridge Police Service. “The suspect then forced the victim to drive out to the Blood Reserve where the victim was let out of the vehicle and the suspect stole the victim’s vehicle leaving the victim on the side of the road.”

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As the victim was flagging a passerby for a ride back into Lethbridge, the suspect returned to the area in the victim’s vehicle and chased the victim and the passerby.

The victim and passerby phoned 911 as they drove away, ending up at the Blood Tribe Police station.

Officers chased the suspect to a parking lot in Fort MacLeod where the vehicle was found abandoned.

Walper says the victim was able to flee.

He is described as being an Aboriginal man in his late 20’s with a thin build.

“At this time, we do not have the suspect in custody. Certainly, we are looking for anyone who may have observed anything to contact police.”

The victim suffered minor injuries but did not need medical attention.

“Any random act like this is not exactly something that’s normal or common in our community,” adds Walper. “It’s obviously very alarming because, as we did say, this is someone who’s not known to the victim. If the public’s wondering, you know, what can I do if I’m sitting in a parking lot. If you’re using parking lots late at night, stay in well-lit parking lots where there’s people around, lock your doors.”

At the same time as the kidnapping, police also investigated a weapons complaint involving a machete in the 2100 block of 5th Ave North.

“We believe the two may be linked where we did have a report of an individual with a machete a short distance from where this occurred.”

Various police and RCMP agencies are continuing to investigate both incidents.