A man who allegedly grabbed a 19-year-old pedestrian in Pasadena and dragged her toward his truck was charged Wednesday with kidnapping and other counts.
Jose Gabriel Diaz Servellon, 29, of Pasadena pleaded not guilty to one count each of kidnapping, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and criminal threats.
Servellon allegedly pulled in front of the woman on July 29 as she was walking near Maple Street and Fair Oaks Avenue, waited for her to pass by and then grabbed her, according to prosecutors.
He allegedly dragged the woman on the ground toward his truck while threatening her life, then released her and fled after a good Samaritan driving by saw what was happening and pulled over.
Police said the woman had fallen to the ground after being pulled by the hair and was struggling with her assailant when the passerby stopped to help.
Servellon was arrested last Saturday after police received a tip from a concerned citizen, according to Pasadena police Lt. Jesse Carrillo. As a result of the tip, police set up surveillance near the 300 block of Tamarac Drive in Pasadena, where they identified and arrested Servellon and impounded his vehicle, the lieutenant said.
Servellon remains behind bars in lieu of $500,000 bail. He is due back in a Pasadena courtroom Aug. 23, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
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If convicted as charged, he could face more than nine years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.
