JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman told police she endured a harrowing ordeal after she was abducted at gunpoint by three men Wednesday night in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Bert Road.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the victim left her home on Morning Sun Drive in the Girvin area around 7:30 p.m. to pick up a friend at the apartment complex.
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When she arrived at the complex, she was confronted by the men, who forced their way into her car at gunpoint, police said.
"They drove her to an ATM to force her to withdraw money. That was negative. She was unable to obtain any money. They put her in the back seat, drove her, again still at gunpoint, to her residence," said Lt. Ron Norse with JSO.
Police said when they arrived at her home, they attempted to sexually assault her in her vehicle outside the home, but the victim became sick, according to police.
"At that point, the assault stopped and two of the suspects went into the victim's home and burglarized it," said Lt. Norse.
The third suspect took the victim inside the home. The men tied her up and left her inside her home, taking off in her vehicle, police said.
The woman was able to get free and call police, who tracked the victim's vehicle (pictured) through OnStar.
Police found the vehicle with the men inside on an Arlington Expressway service road.
When police attempted to pull the vehicle over, the men fled and crashed into four vehicles.
"An occupant and driver in one of four vehicles damaged in the pursuit were transported with minor injuries to the hospital," said Lt. Norse.
The men in the victim's vehicle eventually crashed at 500 Acme Road and took off running. Police apprehended all three, and they were taken into custody.
"We do know one of them has an active warrant for home invasion and being sought by the U.S. Marshals. Exactly what the U.S. Marshals want with him, we don't know yet," said Lt. Morse.
Police said the victim was traumatized but physically not injured.
Police said they want to speak with the victim's friend who lives on Bert Road. Police said they knew each other three days. When asked if this could have been a set-up, police said they were currently investigating that as a possibility.
"We certainly want to talk to her acquaintance she met three days ago and find out what her role, if any, was in this crime," said Lt. Norse.
The three suspects were taken downtown for questioning and various charges of robbery, burglary, attempted sexual battery and abduction were pending.