Man arraigned on kidnapping charges

Staff report

new castle, pa.

A woman was kidnapped by a man after he argued with the woman’s boyfriend over money, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Police said John Eugene Colbert, 23, of Main Street in Wampum detained the 19-year-old New Castle woman in his car after he argued with her 24-year-old boyfriend at 9 p.m. Saturday in a parking lot off North Street in the city.

He drove away, leaving her boyfriend behind, a police report says.

The victim pleaded with Colbert to let her go, but he drove for approximately 10 miles, all the while threatening to beat and kill the woman, police said.

He spat on her several times, then ordered her to take off her jacket and shoes and throw them out the car window, the report says.

He forced her out of his car on Shaw Road in Volant, Pa., and abandoned her to walk in her bare feet in freezing weather, police said. She was able to get help from a resident after about an hour. She was not seriously hurt.

Police arrested Colbert at his residence Monday, and he was arraigned before District Magistrate Scott McGrath. He was charged with kidnapping, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment.

He was sent to the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Police said they are investigating the report that another person was in the car with Colbert when the woman was kidnapped.