LODI- Workers at McDonalds are being hailed as heroes after coming to the aid of a woman in distress.
In a statement from the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office:
“We are lovin’ it! McDonald’s providing a “SAFE PLACE” for abuse and human trafficking victims aids woman to be rescued.
A victim is safe thanks to the McDonald’s crew at the Flag City location in Lodi. On 12/24/19, shortly after 2 P.M. a woman went into the McDonald’s restaurant and told an employee at the counter to call 9-1-1. She also gave the employee the license plate of the vehicle that she was traveling in and asked them to hide her. After the woman used the restroom she attempted to place an order at the counter, but the suspect, Eduardo Valenzuela was nearby and demanded she use the drive- thru.
While in the drive thru, she mouthed to an employee, “HELP ME.” Just then, deputies arrived and spoke with employees inside the restaurant, they rushed them out the door telling them that the woman needing help was in the drive-thru line. The woman was driving her vehicle, with Mr. Valenzuela in the passenger seat when deputies ordered her to pull over.
During the investigation, deputies comforted the shaken woman and discovered that Valenzuela had been violent with her in the past. On this day he told her to take him to visit his family and threatened her life, stating he would use a firearm. A firearm was located in the trunk of the vehicle (stolen out of state).
Eduardo Valenzuela was booked in the San Joaquin County Jail for criminal threats, stolen property, and felon(prohibited person) in possession of a firearm.”
