A story that seems straight out of a movie unfolds as a man shares his ordeal of being kidnapped and taken on a tumultuous ride from Fort Worth to Dallas.
Erik Santiago, a resident of Fort Worth, recounted the terrifying experience to NBC 5, stating, “I’m still shaken up.”
According to Santiago, the incident began at a Fort Worth motel where he was with Takim Peden, his dating partner. He claimed that Peden prevented him from leaving for work, leading to an argument escalating into a physical altercation.
Recalling the ordeal, Santiago mentioned that the altercation spilled into the motel’s parking lot. Desperate to escape, he jumped into the back of his cargo van while on a call with 911. Santiago described how Peden quickly got into the van and drove off, initiating a chaotic journey from Fort Worth to Dallas.
911 recordings released by Fort Worth police captured Santiago’s distress as he pleaded for help during the ride. Santiago recounted the moment his phone died, prompting him to wave his shirt out the back window in a desperate attempt to alert other drivers.
Multiple motorists called 911 as they observed the unfolding events. The ordeal culminated in southern Dallas when Santiago, taking advantage of the chaos, rushed through the cargo door and confronted Peden, causing him to crash the van.
Peden was subsequently handcuffed by a law enforcement officer who was among the concerned drivers. Santiago expressed relief at the end of the ordeal but admitted to still feeling shocked and on edge.
He shared his story as a cautionary tale about the dangers of online dating and as a reminder of the prevalence of domestic violence. Peden faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender and is currently held in the Tarrant County jail.
