Deputies investigate alleged robbery, kidnapping

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - It was wild scene in Altamonte Springs, as suspected kidnappers crashed their car following a pursuit across two counties.

It ended on State Route 436 outside an office building, where one of the suspects ran inside. One witness who works there told FOX 35 people were on edge as police tore through the building.  An armed robbery and kidnapping in Orange County ended in Seminole County with a bang. 

“All of a sudden, I hear a loud crash. One of them runs into our building, holes up in the bathroom and that's when I see another guy run through the side and a lot of police running around everywhere,” said witness Christian Puertas. 

Christian Puertas works inside the office building on State Route 436 in Altamonte Springs at a Purina call center. He was on the phone with customers when he heard the commotion. 

“That’s when we heard that he had a gun, and all of a sudden everybody kind of freaked out,” said Puertas.

Orange County deputies say all this started as an armed robbery and kidnapping on Lee Road in Orlando. Two teenagers picking up a 24-year-old woman was originally reported as a kidnapping. She later told police she got into the car voluntarily. But once she was inside, she says the suspects demanded money and held her at gunpoint. Deputies say she eventually jumped out of the car. 

By this point, deputies identified and started following the car up I-4 to Altamonte Springs, where it eventually crashed into another car.  Folks who work in the nearby building are grateful everyone is okay. 

“They wanted to make sure that safety was the number one priority,” said Puertas. “I was terrified to know that they were suspects in a burglary and kidnapping. It could have been any of us.”

Deputies say no one was seriously hurt in the chase or crash. They found two guns in the suspect’s car.