LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas Metro Police is thanking the public tonight in helping them arrest a man caught in a terrifying home video, allegedly kidnapping a woman. 23-year-old Darnell Rodgers was arrested and is facing multiple felony charges.
“This is absolutely a violent crime. Domestic violence is one of the most horrific crimes we deal with on a daily basis,” Capt. Dennis O’Brien said.
That’s how LVMPD is describing this surveillance video, capturing a terrifying scene overnight New Year’s Day. A woman being beaten and forcefully taken into a white sedan, after running to a home pleading for help. Police say the man on video is 23-year-old Darnell Rodgers. Officers located and arrested him hours after the video was released.
“They went through every case, every call for service to see if there was anyone similar in nature, name and stature that would match the suspect and the victim,” O’Brien said.
Officers say detectives used a combination of the logs and caller tips to start the search. The tips that came in after the video was released helped solidify leads to arrest Rodgers.
“it was critical in nature because we had the assumption that this was the subject. We had a name that officers matched to domestic violence they had gone out to,” O’Brien said.
Rodgers is being held on charges of kidnapping and domestic battery. Police say he and the victim are boyfriend and girlfriend.
“The victim was fine, and I would also like to reiterate that there was a one-month old child in that car at the time of the incident. Their common child,” O’Brien said.
Metro police is encouraging homeowners who have surveillance systems to reach out, as they can be the key in solving cases like this.
“These surveillance systems are so helpful for us in following up in countering the crimes, to combat these violent crimes in nature,” he said.
The one month old is okay and is with child protective services. Rodgers is expected to make his first court appearance tomorrow morning. Police say his criminal history is minor.
