Suspect arrested; victim of alleged Prince George hospital kidnapping freed

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Mounties in Prince George, B.C. say a suspect in an alleged kidnapping case has been arrested, and the victim has been returned to the hospital she was abducted from Sunday afternoon.

The RCMP said witnesses reported seeing a woman being pushed out of the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in a wheelchair and forced into a red Honda hatchback against her will.

The hospital soon determined that a 50-year old female patient was unaccounted for, and had not been discharged.

Police identified a suspect in the case as 44-year old Prince George resident Lash Leroux, whom they said they considered to be violent.

They say the red Honda was spotted outside a Prince George residence around seven o'clock Sunday evening local time, and that's where they found Leroux and the victim.

They say Leroux was arrested without incident and investigators are requesting he remain in custody until a court appearance Monday.

They say the victim was returned to hospital by ambulance, but there's no word on whether she suffered any injuries during the incident.

Police say Leroux and the victim know each other.