Culver City Police Department
PRESS RELEASE
Jason Sims, Chief of Police
Kidnapping and Robbery Suspects Arrested by Culver City Police
Report Number: 25-2388
On May 13, 2025, a victim walked into the Culver City Police Department to report a kidnapping and robbery that had occurred earlier that afternoon in front of a business located at the 3800 block of Midway Avenue.
The victim stated that when walking to his vehicle, he was approached by a suspect in a silver SUV. The front passenger of the SUV pointed a handgun at the victim and ordered him into the vehicle at gunpoint. The suspects then drove the victim to a bank located on Palms Boulevard, where he was forced to make several cash withdrawals.
After attempting to obtain additional funds through a loan and from a friend, the suspects drove the victim back to the bank for further ATM withdrawals. A total of $540 was taken. The suspects later released the victim in a nearby residential area and warned him not to contact law enforcement.
Detectives immediately initiated an investigation, which led to the identification and location of the suspects in the Castaic area.
On May 27, 2025, Culver City Crime Impact Team (CIT) Detectives responded to the Castaic area and located the suspect’s vehicle parked at a local motel. At approximately 11:20 a.m., two individuals matching the suspect’s descriptions were spotted and detained during a high-risk traffic stop at the Newhall Ranch Road offramp on Interstate 5.
Both suspects were identified and taken into custody without incident. Twenty-three-year-old, Franzezo Dumitru, of Washington State and Twenty-one-year-old, Stan Eduardo, of New York, were transported to the Culver City Police Department Jail and booked for 209(A) PC, Kidnapping for Ransom/Robbery.
Today, Thursday, May 29, 2025, charges were filed for both suspects involved for 209(A) PC, Kidnapping for Ransom/Robbery.
For questions on media inquiries regarding this incident, please contact the Culver City Police Department Public Information Officer Jennifer Atenza at (310) 253- 6120 or email
[email protected].
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