Berkeley kidnapping, car chase leads to San Leandro arrest

A man who forced his ex-girlfriend into a car with her three toddlers and drove them to San Leandro is in custody Thursday night, Berkeley police report.

Police said they arrested the man in San Leandro in the hours after the kidnapping with the help of a CHP helicopter and SLPD drone.

The incident began in Berkeley in the 1800 block of Sixth Street at about 1:10 p.m. when officers were dispatched to a family disturbance, BPD said.

The caller said her 21-year-old daughter "was being forced into a vehicle by her daughter's ex-boyfriend," Berkeley police said.

The woman's children, a 1-year-old and two 3-year-olds, were already inside the car, police said.

When officers responded to investigate, they spotted the suspect driving away and pursued him into Oakland, where they lost sight of him, BPD said.

Officers then tracked the man into San Leandro, ultimately locating both adults and all three children outside their car just before 3 p.m., authorities said.

When the man realized police had found him, he "dropped one of the toddlers and ran into the block," BPD said.

Police determined that the victims were unharmed and set up a perimeter to search for the suspect with the assistance of a CHP helicopter and San Leandro police drone.

At about 3:45 p.m., they found him hiding in some type of trash receptacle in the 900 block of Victoria Avenue in San Leandro, BPD said.

Police said the suspect, a man in his 20s, is expected to be booked on suspicion of kidnapping, domestic violence, evading police and other charges.

His name was unavailable pending the booking process.

This story will be updated when more details are provided.