A bizarre and frightening kidnapping incident is being investigated by Kennewick police and other authorities.

Around 6:50am Thursday, police were called to the parking lot of WinCo Foods on Clearwater in Kennewick for a report of a disturbance involving several vehicles.

Sgt. Ken Lattin of the Kennewick Police Department reported upon arrival officers found 4-5 vehicles had been struck by a woman driving a black BMW.  She was not at  the scene. Officers did not say if any of the other motorists were injured in the melee'.

After reviewing store security video and talking to witnesses, police say the woman, identified as 22-year-old Samantha K. Noethe of Walla Walla, was driving erratically in an attempt to avoid several other cars that were trying to deliberately block her in.

She was then "removed" from her car, placed in another vehicle, which left the scene.  Lattin says police do not believe this was a random act, and that Noethe likely knew her abductors.  A widespread search is underway, and more information is expected to be released soon.  It is being treated at a kidnapping.

 

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