By Gina Yarbrough
Lemon Grove, CA–A 22-year-old man is facing multiple charges after allegedly kidnapping a Lyft driver in East County on Sunday night, according to authorities.
The incident began shortly after 9:30 p.m. when the Sheriff’s Communications Center received a “Text to 9-1-1” message from a woman who identified herself as a Lyft driver. She reported being held against her will by a passenger she had just picked up in Spring Valley.
The suspect, later identified as Shane Capezio, allegedly threatened the driver, claiming he had a gun, and ordered her to drive him to a dispensary located in the 3500 block of Harris Street in Lemon Grove.
Deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation and Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station quickly responded to the dispensary, where they found the Lyft driver’s vehicle parked in the lot. Upon approaching the car, deputies witnessed a struggle between Capezio and the driver.
Authorities intervened and detained Capezio. The driver was not seriously injured during the incident.
According to the preliminary investigation, deputies determined that Capezio did not possess a gun. He was arrested and booked into the San Diego Central Jail on several charges, including kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment, dissuading a victim, and preventing a victim from calling 9-1-1.
