Santa Ana Man Accused of Kidnaping Ex-Girlfriend

Police from Orange traced a 20-year-old man to a friend’s apartment in Santa Ana on Monday and freed the man’s ex-girlfriend, whom he had allegedly kidnaped at knifepoint from her work three days earlier, authorities said.

Officers booked the man, Oscar Piez Rodriguez of Santa Ana, on suspicion of kidnaping and assault with a deadly weapon.

Orange police quoted his former girlfriend, Rosa Delacruz, 21, of Orange, as saying Rodriguez had not assaulted her during the weekend she remained at the apartment. However, they said, she told them she did not try to escape for fear that Rodriguez would become violent.

Orange Police Investigator Bob Gustafson said the girlfriend’s brother, Bernardo Delacruz, 26, of Orange, had driven to the T-shirt shop where his sister works Friday afternoon to pick her up when Rodriguez confronted him in the parking lot. When an argument erupted over the couple’s break-up, Rodriguez allegedly drew a 6-inch knife and, after a tussle, Bernardo Delacruz ran into the shop and locked himself in a lavatory, Gustafson said.

During the chase, Rodriguez allegedly brandished his knife at three of his own friends and the shop’s owner, all of whom tried to break up the fight, Gustafson said.

Rodriguez then allegedly pressed the knife against his ex-girlfriend’s ribs, pulled her to his car and drove off, Gustafson said.

He said the only injuries were some minor cuts to Bernardo Delacruz’s wrists and stomach, although it was uncertain whether they were caused by Rodriguez’s knife or the parking lot pavement.