He forced a Merced mom and her 2-year-old into a car and drove off, police say

A 35-year-old man was arrested in Merced on Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping and assault, according to the Merced Police Department.

A woman reported that her boyfriend, Emmanuel Gomez, was assaulting her friend at about 8:30 a.m. around South G Street and East Gerald Avenue, police said. When officers arrived, she told them Gomez broke into her home and attacked her friend, police said.

The witness told officers her friend was struck several times, police said, and Gomez forced the victim and her 2-year-old into a car and drove off.

Police issued an Amber Alert. Merced County sheriff deputies later found Gomez and the victims parked on a canal bank around Almond Avenue and Vine Avenue near Winton.

The child was unharmed, and the mother was treated for injuries at the scene, according to police.

Gomez was booked into the Merced County Jail for kidnapping, corporal injury on a spouse and cohabitant, assault with a deadly weapon, and burglary.

Anyone with information about this crime can call 209-385-4707 or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at 209) 385-4725. People can send anonymous text messages to the police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the “keyword” in the message.

This story was originally published January 21, 2018 at 3:22 PM with the headline "He forced a Merced mom and her 2-year-old into a car and drove off, police say."