Armed man kidnaps estranged girlfriend and her child from apartment, Oregon police say
A man was arrested after he was accused of kidnapping his estranged girlfriend and her child, Oregon police say.
Someone called police at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, to report the kidnapping, the Salem Police Department said in a news release.
The man, identified as 45-year-old Javier B. Munoz Jr., entered the woman’s apartment at gunpoint at about 3 a.m., police said, and did not allow the woman or child to leave.
Hours later, Munoz threatened the woman, which led her to leave the apartment with him and her child, according to police.
As officers searched for the woman, a 911 call came about “a man and woman struggling over a child,” according to police.
Upon arriving, officers realized the two were Munoz and his estranged girlfriend, police said.
Munoz ran with the child toward Geer Community Park, police said.
For two and a half hours, police said they, along with other agencies, searched the area using canines and drones.
Officers eventually found the pair under a trailer a short distance from the park, police said.
The child, who was not hurt, was returned to their mother, according to police.
Munoz was arrested on multiple counts, including first-degree kidnapping, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon and burglary, police said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Armed man kidnaps estranged girlfriend and her child from apartment, Oregon police say."
