Man suspected of kidnapping ex-girlfriend in Pico Rivera sought

Authorities searched Thursday for a man who allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend's Pico Rivera home and kidnapped her at gunpoint.

Joe Martinez allegedly knocked on the door of his ex-girlfriend’s home Wednesday about 6 a.m., and when a family member opened the door, he walked in flashing a handgun, police said.

Once inside the home in the 9400 block of Burke Street, he ordered 20-year-old Adriana Lopez to come with him.

He grabbed her arm and took her out to a small white car, said Capt. Mike Parker of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

They were seen leaving the area in the car.

Martinez, who is known to frequent the West Covina and unincorporated Bassett areas of the San Gabriel Valley, is described as 5-feet-8 and  240 pounds. Detectives say he has a considerable "criminal history and should be considered armed and dangerous."

They advise the public to not approach Martinez if they see him but make a note of the location and his license number if he is in a vehicle, then call 911.

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-- Richard Winton

Photo: Joe Martinez. Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department