Lethbridge police search for machete-wielding kidnapper

Police in Lethbridge, Alta., are looking for the culprit inakidnapping that involved a machete late Sunday.

The Lethbridge Police Service says theman got into the victim's vehicle in the McDonald's parking lot at 444 Mayor Magrath Drive N.shortly before midnight.

According to a news release, the victim was forced to drive by the stranger, who was "brandishing a weapon described as a large machete."

The victim was coerced into withdrawing cash from an ATM and drive around Lethbridge with a knife to his throat,police said at a press conference Monday.

The kidnapper and victim then arrived at a supervised consumption site, where he spoke with someone. Police say they havelocated that individual and officers are following up.

The victim was then forcedto drive to the Blood Reserve,where the stranger stole the vehicle and left the victim by the side of the road, according to the release.

The victim had managed to get the attention of a person nearby when the culprit returned in the stolen vehicle and began to chase them.

According to the release, they managed to escape in the passerby's vehicle andcall police.

Authorities eventually spotted the stolen vehicle speedingon the Blood Reservebut were unableto apprehend the driver. The car was eventually found abandoned in Fort Macleod.

The victim suffered minor injuries, police say.

The culprit's whereabouts remain unknown. He is described by police as an Indigenous malewith a thin build who is in his late 20s.

Police are also investigating the possibility that the incident is related to a weaponscomplaint involving a machete that occurred in the 2100 block of Fifth Avenue North.