Kidnaped 3-Year-Old Is Freed Unhurt; Police Nab Suspects in ‘Ransom Drop’

A 3-year-old girl abducted from the family car and held for a ransom of cocaine and cash was back with her mother today, authorities said.

Three armed men took Porshea Hamilton from her mother’s car in the driveway of their West Los Angeles home at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Officer Jim Farris said.

The child was unhurt, and was released at about midnight on a street in the Firestone area of South Central Los Angeles. She went to a home in the neighborhood for help, Ferris said.

Harold Bridges, 27, Tonia Hilt, 21, Donzie Hill, 20, Baron Williams, 20, and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody, police said.

The four adults were booked for investigation of kidnaping and held on $100,000 bail each. The boy was being questioned by police.

Police said that Porshea was taken as her mother, Gina Hamilton, was backing the car out of the driveway. Later, Hamilton received telephone calls demanding a ransom of cocaine and cash, Cmdr. William Booth said.

Police negotiated with the callers and set up a “ransom drop” in a parking lot in South Central Los Angeles, Booth said. Four of the suspects were arrested there.