Ventura County authorities arrested a Thousand Oaks man who they believe kidnaped a woman and sexually assaulted her, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday.
Investigators began looking into the suspect, Hector Prado, after a patrolling sergeant found a woman who was asking for help in the area of Rancho Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard Sunday.
The victim told authorities that she had been kidnapped and taken to a remote area as the suspect tried to sexually assault her.
Following a “violent struggle” with the suspect, the sheriff’s department said the woman was able to escape from the suspect’s car.
Prado is facing the charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment by violence, assault with the intent to commit rape, sexual penetration with force and assault with intent to commit rape.
Prado was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday as his bail was set to $500,000.