Kimberly Barnes
SAN BERNARDINO – A woman who was feared kidnapped and assaulted has been found, but police are continuing their investigation of crimes thought to be committed against her on Wednesday night.
Police feel that Kimberly Barnes, a 49-year-old San Bernardino resident, was physically assaulted and kidnapped in her own car in the parking lot of a food market at 5:35 p.m.
One day later, on Thanksgiving, Barnes walked into police headquarters and said the altercation was just a misunderstanding. “She came to the police station,” said San Bernardino Police Lt. Rich Lawhead, “came to the front desk and said it was all a big misunderstanding.”
Lawhead, who did not disclose the nature of the misunderstanding, described Barnes to be in good condition. Law enforcement officials had originally received a call that the assault took place in the parking lot of the Stater Bros. Market at 444 East Baseline Street.
When officers arrived, they learned that Barnes became involved in a dispute over money with a male and female who were known to her. During that dispute, police said, Barnes was “physically assaulted and her car keys were taken.”
Police said she was taken from Stater Bros. as a passenger in her own car, a gold 1996 Lexus ES300. The four-door car was eventually located and police arrested a female of interest on related charges.
The investigation, said Lawhead, will continue. He did not disclose any information about the male person of interest that was originally being sought. News of the crime reached various TV media outlets in Los Angeles.
