Juvenile Driver Escapes Kidnapping By Crashing Into Police Car On The Ben Franklin Bridge
WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) – A juvenile driver, forced to drive from Wildwood to Philadelphia, escaped by crashing into a police car on the Ben Franklin Bridge on Friday morning.
Authorities say 45-year-old Floribert Nava of Wildwood was arrested and charged with kidnapping following the crash.
According to the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, a Delaware River Port Authority officer was parked on the shoulder of the Ben Franklin Bridge in a marked police vehicle when he was struck by a car being driven by the juvenile victim.
Police say the victim jumped from the car and told the officer that the passenger, identified as Nava, had a gun and had kidnapped her earlier in the day from Wildwood.
The DRPA officer, who was not injured, placed Nava under arrest and located an "air soft" handgun. Police also found a bag containing duct tape, trash bags and latex gloves inside of the car.
Detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office and the Wildwood Police Department responded and conducted a further investigation.
Authorities say the victim and Nava had a prior dispute over the adoption of a recently born child, and that Nava still wanted the child. Earlier Friday morning, the victim and Nava met in Wildwood. Nava was armed with a handgun and forced the victim to drive to Philadelphia to take her to the adoptive parents.
As a result of the on-going investigation, Nava was charged with Kidnapping, Terroristic Threats, Possession of weapon, and Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
She is currently being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility in lieu of $400,000 bail.
