Man accused of beating, kidnapping woman on Tule River Reservation

A 30-year-old man is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail for allegedly assaulting, kidnapping and threatening to kill a 21-year-old woman on the Tule River Reservation.

The Tulare County Sheriff Department reports that sometime after 10 p.m. Wednesday, the woman was preparing to leave a friend’s house at the reservation while standing next to her car. She was then confronted by the suspect, identified as Luis Teran, who assaulted her and forced her into the car against her will, the sheriff’s department said.

Teran then drove the woman further into the mountainous area, threatened to kill her and then physically assaulted her until she lost consciousness, the sheriff’s department said.

On Thursday morning, Teran drove the woman to Porterville where he rented a motel room.

The sheriff’s department reports that during that time, the woman’s family became concerned for her whereabouts and reported her missing to authorities.

A short time later, deputies from the sheriff’s Porterville substation found the woman inside her car and Teran a short distance away at the motel room.

Teran was detained for investigation and the woman was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

Teran is suspected of committing domestic violence, terrorist threats, kidnapping, carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon.

The sheriff’s department said the woman’s injuries were not life-threatening, and she was later released from the hospital.  

Anyone with information regarding this case can contact the sheriff’s department at 733-6218 or send an anonymous tip to tcso@tipnow.com or by text 725-4194.