LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man is accused of kidnapping and threatening a woman with a meat cleaver while driving on a Las Vegas freeway, leading her to jump to safety from the moving car, according to documents 8 News Now obtained.
On Friday, April 25, Nevada State Police received a call about a woman attempting to jump out of a moving car on Interstate 15 near Flamingo Road. A state trooper responded, finding a woman on the road.
The woman told police she was in a relationship with Jose Urias Vargas, 40, who had asked earlier in the day if she would talk to her on her work break, documents said. Vargas “appeared to be intoxicated and became aggressive” over the fact that a male coworker had driven the woman home the day before.
The woman got into Vargas’ car, and he told her he was taking her to California, documents said.
“[The woman] objected and told Vargas that she did not want to go and that she was supposed to return to work as she was only on her break,” documents said. “Vargas produced a large knife, described as a meat cleaver, and placed it to [the woman’s] left side near her hip.”
The woman attempted to call for help, but Vargas then smashed her phone, police said.
At some point, the woman was able to jump out of the car.
Police arrested Vargas later that day. It appeared Vargas was driving impaired with children and the two large knives in the car, troopers said.
Vargas faces charges including kidnapping, coercion and domestic battery, records said. At the time of his arrest, police said more charges were likely.
Vargas remained in custody Monday on $100,000 bail.
