Woman Rescued Thanks to Cell Phone
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Police tracked down and rescued a woman who called for help on her cellular phone
after she was forced into the trunk of her car by a gunman.
The woman's ordeal ended after about two hours Thursday, when the suspect, fleeing police at speeds up to 100
mph, crashed on an exit ramp.
The woman, a 24-year-old medical student whose name was not released, suffered only a bump on the head.
"She more than likely saved her life by grabbing her phone from her bag when it all started," Virginia State Police
spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said. "It was certainly the best weapon imaginable in her situation."
Elliott Robinson, 19, of Arlington, was being held without bond in the Fairfax County Jail on charges including
carjacking, armed robbery and eluding police, Caldwell said.
Prince William County police dispatcher Linda Norman said she was taken aback when the 911 call came in, but
she quickly realized seriousness of the situation.
Norman kept the woman on the phone while her supervisor broadcast a lookout for the car.
Police also received help from the cellular phone's service provider. A technician tracked the phone by identifying
the tower receiving the signal and relaying locations to police. Police said the signal bounced to six different
towers during the pursuit. |
