A Twentynine Palms man believed to be responsible for a kidnapping and several auto thefts was arrested Thursday morning. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Joseph Lampkin, 30, kidnapped a man at gunpoint, and while wearing a mask, about 10:30 p.m. from the 74000 block of Buena Vista Drive and forced him into a stolen black 2004 Infiniti G35. Police state Lampkin then drove the victim to several banks for him to withdraw money from his bank account. The man was able to escape and called police from the Bowladium, but Lampkin eluded capture. Early Thursday morning at 1:23, Twentynine Palms police attempted to pull over the stolen Infiniti, with Lampkin at the wheel, in the area of El Paseo Drive and Mesquite Springs Road. Lampkin fled from the car and again eluded capture. Then about 8:30 Thursday morning, deputies responded to a burglary in the 72000 block of Larrera Avenue, in which a 1998 Mazda Protégé was also stolen. At 11:53 a.m. Thursday, Deputy Shaunna Ables located the stolen Mazda, being driven by Lampkin, in the area of Buena Vista Drive and Mojave Avenue. Deputy Ables took Lampkin into custody without incident. Joseph Lampkin was arrested for investigation of kidnapping for robbery and grand theft auto, with his bail set at $1,050,000. Lampkin is believed to be responsible for several burglaries and robberies in Twentynine Palms over the last week. Anyone who may be a victim of a similar crime should call the Sheriff’s Department at 760-366-4175.
