Police: Man Abducts Ex-Girlfriend After Running Her Off The Road
NEW CASTLE (KDKA) -- Police say a man abducted his ex-girlfriend after running her off the road in New Castle Thursday evening.
It happened just before 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Francis Place and Duquesne Street.
According to police, that's where Brandon Samuels crashed into his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend's vehicle, forcing her off the road. Samuels then got out of his car and assaulted the woman numerous times before getting back into his vehicle and attempting to run her over.
Samuels then got back out and assaulted the woman again, causing her to lose consciousness.
Police say when the victim woke up, Samuels was putting her in his vehicle. She attempted to stop him, but was unsuccessful, and Samuels fled the scene with the victim in his car.
"The former boyfriend of our victim ... ran her off the road, pulled her out of her vehicle, threw her into his vehicle and then abducted her and left the city of New Castle," New Castle Police Lt. Kevin Seelbaugh said.
At some point, Samuels called his mother and told her he had deliberately crashed into his ex-girlfriend's car, and she told him to bring the victim home and not to hurt her.
A neighbor saw the victim's damaged, abandoned vehicle in her front yard.
"It was scary, very scary, to see something going on and seeing all the people," she said. "Especially, you know, with the TV on and everything, we didn't even hear anything."
Police say Samuels left New Castle, immediately heading north to Grove City. That's when New Castle police issued a BOLO, or "be on the lookout," for both Samuels and the victim.
Samuels reportedly drove up to I-90 in Erie, with local and state police from three counties in pursuit. Eventually, he turned around and headed back down I-79, where he was caught and arrested by state police.
"My understanding is they used spike strips to disable his vehicle, stop him and get him in custody," Seelbaugh said.
Samuels is facing a number of charges, including kidnapping and aggravated assault.
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