A man suspected of kidnapping a woman in East Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day has been arrested and charged, authorities announced Wednesday.

Deputies responded to the 1200 block of Dickson Avenue on Nov. 28 after witnesses reported seeing a woman being physically assaulted.

Officials obtained surveillance video that showed an apparently distressed woman exiting a white-colored SUV moments before a man approached and threw her to the ground.

“The suspect then picked up the female and forcibly placed her back into the vehicle where he proceeded to physically assault her,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated. “The vehicle then drove off with both the suspect and victim in it.”

Detectives later identified the suspect and arrested Ivan Cruz at his residence in Santa Fe Springs without incident.

“The female adult victim observed on video surveillance being assaulted was identified as his girlfriend,” the Sheriff’s Department stated.

She was located in East Los Angeles and was treated for minor injuries by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Cruz was ultimately arrested and on Monday he was charged with felony kidnapping and domestic violence.

He remains in custody on $1 million bail.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or may have further information was asked to call the Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

After a Southern California store was targeted by a shoplifter, the owner decided to feature the thief as the star of his latest clothing collection.

On Dec. 28, 2023, surveillance cameras captured the male shoplifter entering Vardagen, located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, in broad daylight.

He quickly snatches a sweatshirt and another item from a display rack near the store’s entrance before calmly walking away.

Jared Ingold, the shop’s owner, decided to use the crime to his advantage by creating a new clothing collection called “Wanted,” featuring a caricature of the suspect front and center.

“Being a small business owner, we have the theme of entrepreneurship kind of woven throughout the brand, and so it’s just ups and downs and things you deal with,” Ingold said.

Since opening seven years ago, Ingold said his shop has been constantly targeted by shoplifters and smash-and-grab robbers. 

The male suspect who inspired the new collection has not been arrested.

“We looked at the security tapes and we thought it was kind of funny because we couldn’t quite make him out,” Ingold said of the thief.

The distinct cartoon image of the bald, mustachioed thief is now emblazoned on t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, pants and beanies.

Since the collection debuted over the weekend, Ingold said customers are enjoying the unique design and have been eagerly buying the new merchandise.

“We’re not trying to attack anyone. It’s not so much about a singular person because there’s been a lot of people who have stolen from us,” he explained. “It’s more just commentary — an artistic take about what goes on.”

Ingold said he doesn’t plan on pressing charges over the petty theft, but said he has spotted the suspect roaming around the Venice area.

“Actually, that was the first time we ever saw him, but we have seen him around more recently as some people recognize him because he’s around on the streets,” he said.

A 28-year-old Ventura County man, who is out on bail, is facing 9 felony charges in connection with the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), officials announced Tuesday.  

An investigation into the suspect, identified as Oxnard resident Angel Martinez, began in July when authorities with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit were monitoring a file sharing network and spotted the illicit materials being shared from an Oxnard apartment.  

As the investigation progressed, a search warrant was issued and executed on Nov. 16 at the residence in the 2900 block of Albany Drive.  

“Martinez was arrested at the scene without incidence and numerous electronic items, including cell phones, hard drives, laptops and a desktop computer were seized,” according to a VCDA news release.  

The 28-year-old has been charged with seven felony counts of distribution of CSAM, a felony count of possessing CSAM with intent to distribute and a felony count of possession of CSAM.  

Martinez, who pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to appear in court in January and remains free after posting a $50,000 bond.  

The City of Oxnard in July 2024 partnered with the district attorney’s office to investigate internet crimes against children.  

Senior Deputy DA Marc Leventhal, a member of the VCDA’s Special Prosecutions Fraud & Technology Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case, officials said.