TAYLORSVILLE — A man who thought he was meeting a girl on Valentine's Day was jumped and kidnapped once he got to the girl's apartment.
But quick thinking by the victim allowed him to eventually escape. Police were able to arrest two people and were looking Wednesday for two others.
The incident began Saturday when a man who met a woman through an online dating service went to her home, said Taylorsville police detective Shannon Bennett.
Once he got there, however, rather than the woman, he was greeted by three men who attacked him, Bennett said. The men took him and his vehicle to a 7-Eleven near 4700 S. Redwood Road and told him to go inside and withdraw money for them.
Once inside, however, the victim locked the store doors and told the clerk to call police, Bennett said.
One of the men tried to go into the store after him but couldn't enter through the locked doors. By that time a patrol car responded to the scene. The two in the car took off. The man left behind at the store was arrested a short time later, as was the girl who allegedly set the victim up, Bennett said.
The search continued Wednesday for the two remaining men. They were all believed to be gang members.
Bennett said the incident was a good reminder to all users of online dating services to always meet the prospective date in public places, don't give out personal information like a home address right away, avoid secluded areas and always remain alert.
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