Man Held Girlfriend Hostage, Police Say

A 31-year-old Los Angeles man was in Ventura County sheriff’s custody Saturday night after holding his girlfriend hostage and threatening to kill her, authorities said.

Sean Ray Emdy was arrested about 3 p.m. Saturday when he returned to the house where the night before, authorities say, he kidnapped his girlfriend and threatened her with a .357 magnum handgun, according to East County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rod Mendoza.

Emdy became angry with the unidentified woman after she told him their relationship was over, authorities said.

Police say Emdy and the woman were out celebrating his birthday Friday night. When they returned to her parents’ house in the 2700 block of Fernleaf Court at about 11 p.m., the woman tried to end the relationship, Mendoza said.

Emdy allegedly became violent and started slapping the woman. He tried to tie her up and throughout the night put the gun to her face, threatening to kill her if she left him, Mendoza said.

He also threatened to kill members of the woman’s family if she tried to escape, Mendoza said.

The woman escaped at about 5 a.m. Saturday, ran to a neighbor’s house and called authorities.

Emdy then stole a car belonging to the woman’s parents and fled the scene, authorities said.

When he came back to the house at about 3 p.m. Saturday, a neighbor called authorities. Deputies Louis Beery and Steve Capuano took Emdy into custody. They found a .357 handgun in his waistband and drugs in his possession, Mendoza said.

The parents’ car was recovered. They were not home at the time of the incident.

The investigation is continuing.