Friend saves woman held captive for 20 hours after call for help, California cops say

A friend rescued a woman who had been held captive for 20 hours by an acquaintance after a desperate call for help, California authorities reported.

Jonathan Sass, 29, is accused of forcing the woman into his vehicle and taking her phone at 11 p.m. Monday, April 18, in Oceanside, according to a San Diego County sheriff’s news release. He refused to let her go and threatened to kill her, officials said.

Sass drove the woman around north San Diego County for 20 hours until she found a second phone and called a friend for help at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, sheriff’s officials said.

The woman escaped from Sass and jumped into her friend’s vehicle, the release said. Sass blocked their escape with his own vehicle until he saw a sheriff’s helicopter overhead.

Sass fled, followed by the helicopter, until deputies pulled him over and arrested him, sheriff’s officials said.

He faces charges including kidnapping, making criminal threats, robbery, possessing drugs for sale and violating the conditions of his probation, the release said.

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 9:47 AM with the headline "Friend saves woman held captive for 20 hours after call for help, California cops say."