Man suspected of assaulting, kidnapping girlfriend arrested, search for missing woman continues
LOS ANGELES - Authorities searched Wednesday for a 31-year-old woman believed to be kidnapped in Monrovia by her boyfriend, who was taken into custody after a nearly five-hour standoff with police in downtown Los Angeles.
Amanda Kathleen Custer was last seen Monday morning in the 600 block of Vaquero Road, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Blood was found inside the residence at that location and a witness told investigators the suspect, Robert Anthony Camou, 27, was seen placing Custer -- who appeared possibly unconscious -- in the trunk of a 2017 gray Toyota Prius.
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That same car was spotted by Los Angeles police around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday near Hill and Second streets, and Camou was seen lying in the back seat, occasionally pretending to be asleep, police said.
The suspect refused to come out of the vehicle, prompting a standoff that included a pair of SWAT tanks pinning the car in place. Surrounding streets were blocked off, complicating the morning commute in the downtown area.
SWAT officers broke out the rear window of the Prius and tossed tear gas into the vehicle, prompting Camou to surrender around 7:30 a.m. There was no sign of Custer.
Camou was booked on suspicion of burglary and was being held without bail, according to the sheriff's department, which reported that he had been the subject of a no bail warrant.
Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said Camou and Custer had been dating for about two years and they had a tumultuous relationship marred by domestic violence allegations.
Custer does not live at the house in Monrovia where blood was found, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.
"These two have had a dating relationship for at least two years,'' Hoglund said. "There have been numerous domestic violence incidents between them.''
Custer filed court papers in February seeking a restraining order against Camou, claiming he showed up uninvited at her home and broke a double-pane window with a hatchet, according to reports.
Custer is white, 5 feet 8, 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.
Anyone with information regarding the possible kidnapping was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or lacrimestoppers.org.
CNS contributed to this report.