Suspect arrested for kidnapping pregnant woman and hitting 2 people with car in Fresno, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man is in custody after police say he kidnapped a pregnant woman and then hit two people with his car in central Fresno on Wednesday morning.

The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Albert Mitchell.

Fresno police say around 8 a.m., Mitchell went to a residence in northeast Fresno, smashed in the windows, and kidnapped his pregnant ex.

The woman cut her feet on the broken glass.

Police say he drove off with her, but they were able to track the victim's phone to Blackstone.

Officers chased Mitchell until they say he smashed into a bus stop near Clinton, hitting two people.

"At this point, we don't know if the collision was intentional or not," said Fresno Police Sgt. Diana Trueba-Vega.

Police were able to rescue the pregnant woman after the crash, but Mitchell ran, heading straight into the backyard of a nearby home.

Security cameras captured the suspect ducking into the garage of a home where a mother had just returned from dropping her kids off at school.

"I asked the cop what was going on, and he said that there was somebody on the loose for domestic violence," explained the woman, who did not want to be identified.

As she went back into her home, she realized her garage door, which she leaves cracked for her cat, was closed.

She went to open it.

"I tried to open up the garage door, but it wasn't opening like if it was locked or if somebody was holding it down from inside," recalled the woman.

"Someone was holding it down. So, I keep on struggling, trying to open it up, and finally I opened it up a little bit, and I saw droplets of blood."

That's when she came face to face with a man accused of kidnapping -- and running from police.

"He was telling me 'please be quiet, don't say nothing," the woman said.

On his knees, he begged her not to tell the police where he was hiding.

"I just said 'okay, okay, I won't say nothing," the woman explained.

"Then I ran outside to the front, and then I told the cops, 'c'mon you guys, he's in my garage.'"

A large area was shut down as a helicopter circled, a drone buzzed, and police tried to drive the suspect out.

A recording warned of the risk if they were forced to use the police dog.

"We will be searching this area with a K9. If the K9 finds you, he will bite you," the recording said.

Eventually, police did use the K9 and a pack of officers walked Mitchell out to a waiting ambulance around 10 a.m.

The victims at the bus stop were also taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Mitchell was treated for injuries from the K9 bite.

Police say he was on parole for a home invasion.

He will be booked on several charges, including domestic violence, kidnapping, and evading police.

If you are the victim of domestic abuse or you know someone who is, there is help available 24/7. In Fresno County, call the Marjaree Mason Center at (559) 233-4357. In all other locations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.

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