SAN JOSE
– A 21-year-old Gilroy man attacked and tried to kidnap a woman
and her 11-month-old daughter at knifepoint in a mall parking
garage Wednesday night, according to San Jose police.
SAN JOSE – A 21-year-old Gilroy man attacked and tried to kidnap a woman and her 11-month-old daughter at knifepoint in a mall parking garage Wednesday night, according to San Jose police.
If the victim hadn’t screamed for help, Derrick Ashton Smith might have gone through with it.
Apparently scared of getting caught, however, Smith fled across the highway to the upscale Santana Row shopping district, where security guards spotted him and police arrested him.
Smith, who has a Gilroy address, was booked into county jail on felony charges of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and assault with intent to commit rape.
The alleged victim had just left the Westfield (Valley Fair) Shopping Center at about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday and was strapping her daughter into her car seat when Smith approached and shoved her from behind into the vehicle, according to police. He then punched her in the face, held a knife to her and threatened her and the baby. Taking her car keys, he sat her in the front passenger seat and sat down himself in the driver’s seat.
It was then that the woman started to scream.
Smith tried to cover her mouth, police said, but she was able to break free from his grip. She got out of the vehicle and began freeing the baby from the car seat; Smith jumped out too and ran away.
Police took the woman to O’Connor Hospital, where she was treated for facial injuries and released.
While searching the area for Smith, police issued an all-points bulletin giving his description. At 8:37 p.m., Santana Row security guards reported they had a person matching that description at the Borders Books and Music store. San Jose detectives are trying to determine whether Smith has committed other, similar crimes in the Bay Area.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Detective Todd Trayer at 277-4102 or, to remain anonymous, 947-STOP (7867).
