Student reports being kidnapped, robbed at gunpoint in Niles

Staff report

NILES

Police are investigating an armed robbery and abduction of a student that began in the parking lot in the Great East Plaza late Wednesday and ended after the suspect forced the woman to drive to her bank.

The woman had left her class at the Ross Medical Educational Center in the Great East Plaza and placed her book bag in the trunk of her car when a white male approached her with a handgun, and a hooded sweat shirt around his face, and demanded money.

When the woman said she had none, the man demanded that she take him to her bank, which is in front of the Eastwood Mall near Youngstown Road. She took him there, withdrew $40 from the automated-teller machine and gave it to him.

The man ordered the woman to drive to the Lone-star Steakhouse back in the direction of the Great East Plaza and drop him off. He then fled on foot back toward the Great East Plaza.

The woman called police from near the steakhouse at 10:12 p.m.

Niles police, which made a report on the incident available on its website Monday, didn’t mention finding the suspect.

No further information was available Monday afternoon.

The suspect was described as having sandy-colored facial hair, possibly a Spanish accent, a light gray hooded sweat shirt and black pants.

Police took the victim’s car to the police station so it could be checked for fingerprints.