Man in custody over alleged abduction, assault of woman in Stuart Park
A 19-year-old man is in police custody in relation to the alleged abduction and assault of a woman in Stuart Park.
The woman was allegedly forced to jump from a moving car to escape a man who abducted her from outside a sex shop in Darwin in what appeared to be a random attack.
Police said the woman suffered significant injuries after leaping from the vehicle in Fannie Bay at about 12:30am (ACDT) on Tuesday.
She was allegedly forced into her own car outside the sex shop on Stuart Highway in Stuart Park at about midnight.
"He forced her into her vehicle and forced her to drive it," Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Karl Day said.
"The offender then forced the female to drive towards Nightcliff.
"He has then taken control of the vehicle and driven away from that location."
Half an hour later, the woman managed to escape by jumping from the moving car in Gilruth Avenue, sustaining injuries to her head and shoulders, police said.
"Whilst on Gilruth Avenue the victim saw an opportunity to escape, jumped from the moving vehicle, causing substantial injuries to herself and got away from the offender," the Detective said.
The man in custody was being interviewed by police on Tuesday afternoon.
The case is being investigated by the Sex Crimes Unit.
Victim's husband thanks 'good Samaritan'
The woman's husband said the abduction and assault was a complete surprise.
"You don't expect them to happen to you, but they do," he said.
He said she was assaulted for about half an hour before being able to escape.
"Who knows where she'd be today if she didn't [escape]," he said.
A passerby saw the woman bailing out of the car and called police, who then took the woman to Royal Darwin Hospital.
The woman's husband said he hoped the passerby would come forward so they could thank her.
"The only good thing to come out of it was a good Samaritan contacted me last night and stayed with my wife until help arrived," he said.
"A young blonde girl, if she can come forward, we'd really like to thank her."
Victim released from hospital with stitches
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Day said the woman had been released from hospital and was now resting.
"Exiting the vehicle obviously caused pretty bad sorts of injuries," he said.
"She had stitches to her head and suffered injuries to her shoulders and ligaments.
"All available police were utilised to look for the person."
The car was later found in the nearby Bagot Aboriginal community.
Detective Day said there were no known links between the victim and the perpetrator, and it was not known why the victim was targeted.
"It is quite concerning and I think it is a random abduction," he said.
The offender was of Aboriginal appearance and 25 to 45 years old, he said.
Detective Sergeant Day said while the description of the offender was broad but they did have a person of interest who matched the description.
He said police are continuing their investigation, and asked members of the public with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
