A Brooklyn Park man was arrested this May for allegedly kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and reportedly threatening to kill her and her youngest child.
According to the woman, her ex-boyfriend had “tracked her” to a local grocery store. Panicked and supposedly afraid for her safety, the woman called police.
After police arrived the ex-boyfriend was reportedly sent away along with the youngest child. Many have questioned that if the woman feared for her safety enough to call the police because of her ex-boyfriend then wouldn’t she also fear for the youngest child’s safety as well?
The woman then claims that, after the police left, her ex returned and forced his way into her van. An eyewitness told police they saw the woman press her face against the window and mouth “help me.” The eyewitness then called 911.
The man was arrested and went on trial in July where he pled guilty to kidnapping and terroristic threats. Prosecutors sought a ten year sentence after hearing testimony that the man had allegedly threatened to kill the woman and the child. Prosecutors also claim that the man was under the influence of methamphetamines at the time of the incident.
The man’s criminal defense attorney have argued for a more lenient sentence considering the fact that he did not injure the woman or child and allowed her to call her family over the course of the six hour kidnapping.
The judge denied the defense’s request for a shorter sentence but the man was credited 127 days for time served in jail. He will also have to register as a predatory offender.
Source: Star Tribune, “Brooklyn Park kidnapper gets eight years in prison,” Chao Xiong, Sept. 19, 2012
