CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — An indictment has been returned in the case of a Cheektowaga woman who was kidnapped in her driveway last month.
Early in the morning on March 2, the 26-year-old woman was taken from her driveway on George Urban Boulevard after getting out of her car, the Erie County District Attorney’s office said. She had been returning from a bar in downtown Buffalo.
The suspect, identified as Abel Gebrehawaria, 24, attacked her and dragged her towards a parked SUV on the street, according to the DA’s office.
After they say he pushed her into the back seat of the vehicle and started driving away, the victim was able to grab the steering wheel and cause the vehicle to drive up onto the curb, the DA’s office said.
The woman told News 4 she ran from the vehicle and the driver sped off.
Gebrehawaria, a Buffalo resident who was not previously known to Cheektowaga police, was later charged with second-degree kidnapping. If convicted, he could spend 25 years in prison.
“This is an extremely rare occurrence,” Acting District Attorney Michael Keane said of the case.
The next court date for Gebrehawaria, who is in custody without bail, has not yet been set.
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.