Video shows woman's abduction in Philadelphia; abductor sought

GERMANTOWN -- Philadelphia police have released surveillance video that shows a missing woman's abduction.

It happened at 9:40 p.m. Sunday in Germantown.

Investigators say 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither of West Hansberry Street was forced into a car along the 100 block of West Coulter Street.

A witness told police Freeland-Gaither was yelling for help while being pushed into a gray or silver 4-door sedan that may have been a Ford Taurus.

The video released by police shows that car being parked by the side of the road. Someone gets out of the car and walks out of view.

Moments later, Freeland-Gaither is seen struggling against her abductor while being dragged down the street.

Police say she kicked out the rear driver's side window just before the car sped away.

Police found Freeland-Gaither's glasses and mobile phone lying on the road where the abduction occurred.

Officers were back Monday morning and picked up a glove as possible evidence.

"There's no relationship to drugs or criminal activity at this time," Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Clifton Lights told Action News.

Family members said she lives just blocks from where the abduction happened.

Monday morning Carl Freeland, Carlesha's father, was out posting flyers on the block where she was taken.

"I don't care what anyone has to do, just let my daughter come home," he said. "That's all I'm asking."

"I think she was coming from a cousin's party or something and was walking down," said Carlesha's grandfather, Derek Alston. "And she was supposed to call her boyfriend to meet her, and she never did."

"She's just a sweet child, a very sweet child," said her grandmother, Connie Freeland. "We don't know if she was talking to them or whether they ended up asking her a question and just grabbed her. We don't know what happened at all."

The suspect was described as a black male, 5'10, medium-heavy build, 25-30 years-of-age, medium brown complexion, wearing a dark colored jacket with a dark colored hood possibly a hooded sweatshirt underneath, dark colored hat, and dark colored pants.

The vehicle is described as a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic 4-door Ford Taurus with an unknown PA license, an unknown plate on the front bumper, rear spoiler, and both driver and passenger side rear windows broken out. Vehicle is missing inspection stickers and has an unknown item in the center bottom of the front windshield.

Anyone with information about the incident or Freeland-Gaither's whereabouts is being asked to call Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3353.