Police authorities have provided a significant update following an incident where a woman seemed to have been abducted outside her residence, captured by a doorbell camera. The event took place in Wichita, Kansas, around 2 am on Sunday, where the woman was observed being forcibly taken by a man. A 22-year-old male has been apprehended in connection with the incident, with law enforcement indicating it was linked to alleged domestic abuse.
Video footage from the doorbell depicted the 35-year-old woman screaming as she was seized from behind. She was attired in a black top and shorts while approaching the front doorbell before being subdued by the man.
Following the incident, the woman was taken out of the view of the doorbell camera. Wichita Police Department (WPD) confirmed on Tuesday that the woman had been “safely located.”
Authorities stated, “Based on our current investigation, we believe this event involves a domestic violence situation between the woman and her partner.” They also mentioned that the woman did not sustain any significant injuries.
Additionally, the police reassured the public, stating, “As of now, there is no indication of ongoing threat to the general community.” A spokesperson for the police force announced the arrest in the case.
“In a recent development around 7 pm, officers from the Domestic Intervention and Violence Reduction team (DIVRT) arrested a 22-year-old male in connection with the doorbell surveillance incident,” the police reported. “The individual has been detained at Sedgwick County Jail on charges of aggravated battery strangulation, two counts of domestic simple battery, and criminal restraint.”
The case details will be forwarded to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging review. Before the woman was located and her partner apprehended, a reward of $2,000 (£1,496) was offered by the police.
The WPD expressed gratitude to the public for sharing the video and images, which led to increased awareness of the incident and prompted the woman to contact them, identifying herself as the individual of interest.
The apparent abduction has raised concerns among neighbors, prompting reflections on past incidents. Resident Angelica Verduzco expressed her worries, stating, “It’s risky. That’s the reality. But, I’ve always believed there were kidnapping occurrences.”
