BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A 38-year-old man was arrested after witnesses reported seeing him forcefully drag a woman into a truck in the early morning hours of October 8, 2026. The incident unfolded in the 1800 block of Pacific Street around 4:30 a.m.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Patrol deputies responded to reports of a possible kidnapping. Witnesses told deputies they saw Joseph Cruz drag a woman in her 30s to a white and orange lowered Chevrolet truck as she tried to pull away from him.
The woman was eventually placed in the vehicle before it fled the area. Detectives responded to the scene and took over the investigation.
Patrol deputies used Flock cameras to track the vehicle to East Bakersfield. Based on witness statements, detectives developed probable cause to arrest Cruz for kidnapping.
After several hours of surveillance, deputies located Cruz’s vehicle in the 800 block of Exchange. Deputies contacted Cruz at a residence and placed him into custody.
The woman was found at the residence uninjured. Cruz was transported and booked into the Sheriff’s jail on charges of kidnapping, domestic violence, possession of an illegal weapon and unrelated narcotics charges.