Man charged over alleged violent kidnapping of woman east of Melbourne
A pair of dog walkers have helped save a woman who was allegedly violently dragged into a car and kidnapped.
A man has been charged after a woman was allegedly violently kidnapped east of Melbourne.
Police allege a 40-year-old man was speaking to a woman, also aged 40, in Moe about 130km from Melbourne before he dragged the woman into his car and drove off.
Police allege the woman was assaulted at multiple locations around Moe before the man stole her wallet.
The incident unfolded after the woman spoke to a man sitting in a parked silver Audi sedan in a carpark on Albert St about 11.45am on Saturday.
He then allegedly kidnapped her and drove off.
According to police, the terrifying ordeal ended when the woman, from Trafalgar, managed to escape from the car and sought assistance from a man and woman walking a dog.
The woman was assessed by paramedics but did not require any further medical treatment.
Police arrested a man on Sunday morning.
Leading Senior Constable Natalie Dean said the 40-year-old Morwell man had been charged with 14 offences, including kidnapping and false imprisonment.
He has also been charged with robbery, theft, assault offences, bail offences and several driving and traffic-related offences.
Police believe both the man and the woman were known to each other.
The man remains in custody and is expected to face Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court later on Monday.
Detectives say they are still keen to speak to the dog walkers who helped the woman and anyone else with dashcam footage of the Audi travelling through the Moe area, in particular on Albert St about 11.45am.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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