Mansfield Police officers responded to a kidnapping at 521 West 3rd St. on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 3:12 p.m. A 15-year old male was arrested for the kidnapping of his 16-year-old girlfriend from the parking lot of the Mansfield Sr. High School.
The suspect’s mother reported that the male had kidnapped his girlfriend from the parking lot of the Mansfield Sr. High School parking lot at 3 p.m. According to a report from the Mansfield Police Department, the suspect’s mother stated that the male’s girlfriend did not want to see him anymore and ended the relationship. The suspect had seen the 16-year-old victim in the parking lot of Mansfield Sr. High School and confronted her.
He then forced the victim into the driver’s seat of her vehicle. The suspect’s mother observed these activity and attempted to block the victim’s vehicle with her own vehicle.
The suspect forced the victim to ram his mother’s vehicle out of the way and fled the area. His mother attempted to follow the victim’s vehicle but lost it in the area and contact police. All available Mansfield Police Department officers began searching the area for the victim’s vehicle and were initiating the steps for an AMBER alert.
Officer’s successfully made contact with the suspect by cellular phone. He stated, “I’m not going to jail, and I’m not giving her up.”
At 5:32 p.m. officers found the victim had returned home unharmed. The victim stated that the suspet was able to calm down and she was allowed to drop him off at his residence. Officers found him at his residence and he was arrested without incident on a charge of kidnapping.
The suspect was incarcerated at the Detention Center until his court date and the investigation is ongoing.
Police Chief Ken Coontz stated, “This was isolated incident that occurred in the parking lot of the high school and no other students were involved or injured.”
Editor’s note: Suspect’s name removed.
