Tulsa Bomb Squad Called After Driver Taken Hostage

A young man gave another man a ride early Sunday morning from 11th and Lewis and found himself held hostage with a possible bomb around his neck.

The ordeal began at about 2 a.m. when a 19-year-old let a stranger into his car, according to Tulsa Police. 

Officers say the suspect pulled a gun on the driver, taking him hostage. The suspect then tied a duffle bag around the victim's neck, saying there was a bomb inside, according to Sergeant Mark Mears with the Tulsa Police Department.

The suspect first told the victim to drive to an ATM near 31st and Garnett to take money out of his bank account. Police say the suspect was not satisfied with the amount of money and had the victim drive him to another location, finally ending up at 81st and Riverside at about 3:30 a.m.

"The victim managed to escape the vehicle," Sergeant Mears told News On 6.

After the victim jumped out of the car, the suspect slid over and drove away in the dark blue 2005 Pontiac G6.

The teenager tore the duffle bag from around his neck and kept running, calling police to 81st and Riverside.

Tulsa Police partially blocked off the road to traffic and called in the bomb squad.

"We're not going to take a chance on something like this," Mears said of the possible explosive device. "Probably (it's) just a bag and a ruse by the suspect, but as soon as we assume that, it's not going to be a ruse and somebody's going to get hurt.

"We take out time and do it by the numbers," he said.

No bomb was found, and officers opened the roadway back up to traffic. 

The suspect is described as an Asian male in his mid to late 20's. He was about 5'6" tall, 170 pounds with a Mohawk haircut.  Again, the car stolen was a dark blue 2005 Pontiac G6.

If you have any information about the suspect or have seen the victim's car, Tulsa Police are asking you to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.