Caught on camera: Apparent assault, abduction at Buckeye gas station
(NOTE: On Mar. 5, 2024, Buckeye Police announced that the woman seen in the video has been found safe. The original story is below)
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BUCKEYE, Ariz. – Police in Buckeye are seeking the public's help in identifying two people involved in an apparent assault and abduction at a Circle K last week.
The incident happened on Feb. 23 near Interstate 10 and Watson Road. Investigators say just after 10:00 p.m. that day, they received a call from an eyewitness who watched a woman get dragged into a vehicle before it sped off.
In the video, an SUV is seen pulling up to a gas pump. A woman gets out of the passenger seat and starts running toward the convenience store. A man then gets out of the SUV, grabs the woman and drags her back into the vehicle.
"That video is extremely concerning to us, and we understand that that video would be concerning to the viewers that are watching it, so that's why we were here today, asking for information from the public to help us identify these two subjects, to help identify them and see if this woman is OK," said Sgt. Tamela Skaggs with the Buckeye Police Department.
After the incident, police say the vehicle fled from the gas station on Watson heading toward I-10. Police believe the vehicle involved is a gray Nissan Rogue that was made between 2021 and 2023.
"We know nothing about these two subjects – if they know each other, if they're in a relationship together - we don't know anything about them," said Sgt. Skaggs. "The timing in this investigation is extremely crucial. Watching that video, we are concerned for that female. They’re too many unknowns in this investigation. That video right now is all that we have."
If you have any information, you're asked to call police at 623-349-6411. You can also submit a tip online at www.buckeyeaz.gov/crimetip.