UTSA students escape from kidnapper at Northwest Side apartment with help from SAFD

A suspected kidnapper is taken away from SAPD downtown on October 29, 2014. A suspected kidnapper is taken away from SAPD downtown on October 29, 2014. Photo: TOM REEL Photo: TOM REEL Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close UTSA students escape from kidnapper at Northwest Side apartment with help from SAFD 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A routine fire call turned into a life-saver for two University of Texas at San Antonio students who said they were kidnapped, only to be freed after one of the women — still partially restrained — found refuge with the firefighters.

A San Antonio Fire Department crew had been dispatched to the Avalon Place Student Apartments in the 6600 block of UTSA Boulevard about 1 a.m. Wednesday for a call for a burning trash bin in a breezeway, authorities said.

While the firefighters were putting out the fire, a woman hobbled down a flight of stairs, saying that she had been kidnapped by an armed man who still was holding another woman in an apartment, police reported.

“She was actually partially restrained at the time, and she asked for help from the firefighters and officers on scene,” said Sgt. Javier Salazar, a police spokesman.

Salazar said officers went to the apartment and observed the man “in the process of trying to barricade the door,” Salazar said.

As police were preparing to make an emergency entry into the apartment, the man went out onto the balcony and surrendered, police said, adding that his hands were covered in blood and he was armed with a knife.

“Once they (first responders) were in the apartment, they found a second victim, another young lady being held in the apartment against her will,” Salazar said.

The second woman was found inside the bathroom of the apartment. Police said it appears that the fire and kidnappings are related, though more details were not immediately available.

The man, Bo Jett Littleton, 34, has been charged with one count of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated sexual assault, according to police. Bonds total $300,000 on all the charges.

The crime happened across the street from UTSA’s main campus.

In a statement Wednesday, Joe Izbrand, UTSA’s chief communications officer, said university authorities are working to provide support to the victims.

“Although this incident happened off campus, the safety and well-being of UTSA students anywhere is a concern of the university,” he said. “Our Police Department is working closely with the victims to ensure they have immediate access to counseling and other campus support services.”

SAPD continues to investigate.

mdwilson@express-news.net

Twitter: @MDWilsonSA

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