Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are seeking witnesses or potential victims of a 26-year-old Armenian national arrested for kidnapping a teenage girl, officials announced Monday.
Varush Manoukyan was arrested on April 10 for a kidnapping that occurred a day earlier at around 5 p.m., according to a community alert released by LAPD’s Mission Division.
“The victim, a female in her mid-teens, was able to immediately escape from the suspect’s vehicle and notify police,” officials said.
Authorities say the 26-year-old may have approached victims in his vehicle, a black 2014 Mercedes E350 four-door sedan, speaking a foreign language. He has reportedly been known to try and use his cellphone to translate a request for direction or to ask for some type of assistance.
The vehicle and the 26-year-old are currently in police custody, officials said.
According to detectives, Manoukyan may have frequented the following areas in the last two to three months:
- Van Nuys and Roscoe Boulevard area in Panorama City
- 1640 block of West 3rd Street in Los Angeles
- 3000 block of West 3rd Street in Los Angeles
- 7000 South Hoover Street near Mt. Carmel Recreation Center in L.A.
- Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Sheldon Street in Sun Valley
Authorities added that potential victims, including any females approached or contacted by Manoukyan, can report the incident to detectives at LAPD’s Mission Division.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Anderson at 818-838-9810 or the Mission Area Station front desk at 818-838-9800. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477.
