Manhunt underway for Ohio man accused of stealing a rental car with a child inside in Peoria

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact their local police department. (Photo courtesy: Flickr/File)

By WMBD TV

PEORIA – An Ohio man allegedly used force to take a rental car that had a child inside, according to charges filed Tuesday.

The counts, returned by a Peoria County grand jury, shed new light on what happened that morning when Victor Farris, 45, drove off in the 2024 Kia Seltos from an Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility on Pioneer Parkway.

Grand jurors handed down counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking, kidnapping and possession of a stolen motor vehicle in connection with the Sept. 4 incident.

The hijacking charge alleges Farris took the vehicle from a man “by the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force, and a person, (the young boy) was a passenger in the motor vehicle at the time.”

If convicted, he faces at least six years and possibly up to 45 years behind bars.

Prosecutors have issued a no bond arrest warrant with the promise to extradite Farris if he’s caught outside the area.

WMBD can be reached at [email protected].

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