TERRE HAUTE —
A man whose forcible abduction of a woman on county-owned property was captured on video Thursday has been arrested by police.
Darrell A. Elder Jr., 20, of Terre Haute, was arrested Friday afternoon at the state office building at Eighth and Cherry streets in Terre Haute after he appeared for a previously scheduled appointment, accompanied by the woman who he allegedly abducted.
A team of deputies from the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest after detectives received a warrant from Vigo Superior Court 4 on charges of criminal confinement, a class-D felony, and battery, a class-B misdemeanor. Elder was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Vigo County Jail where he was booked in around 4 p.m. His bail was set at $10,000 with no 10 percent allowed.
A two-state alert was issued Thursday after the incident, and tips were called in to police about the identity of the suspect and alleged victim after video of the incident was aired by local media outlets.
Indiana State University Police originally investigated the alleged abduction because it occurred near the parking lot of ISU Married Student Housing on Crawford Street just after 10 a.m., and it appeared that the man and woman in the video might be associated with the university.
After the suspect and victim were identified, both people were questioned Thursday night by ISU Police. The couple told police that they reside together. They were later released by ISU Police.
However, the sheriff’s department continued the investigation because the incident occurred in the parking lot of the Vigo County Juvenile Center. After consulting with the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office about possible criminal charges, a warrant was sought for Elder’s arrest.
Chief Deputy Clark Cottom told the Tribune-Star on Friday that investigators learned that the incident actually began on Third Street when the woman jumped out of a northbound Ford Windstar minivan and ran across Crawford Street to the rear door of the juvenile facility where she banged on the door to get attention.
Staff inside the juvenile center saw the incident occurring on their surveillance cameras, Cottom said, but by the time they reached the area, Elder had forcibly lifted the woman off the ground and loaded her into the minivan. The female reportedly fought throughout the incident, kicking the driver’s side door of the van as it closed.
Security cameras from the Vigo County Juvenile Center captured the abduction from multiple angles.
“He certainly held her and placed her in the vehicle against her will, according to what we saw on video,” Cottom said outside the county jail after Elder’s arrest.
He also noted that public input on the identity of the suspects helped the investigation.
The decision to release the video was based in part on the violent nature of the apparent abduction, as well as the unknown identity of the man and women, and their possible relationship, if any existed.
“When this went down, we had no idea what we were dealing with,” Cottom said. He also noted that since the apparent victim had no bodily injury resulting from the incident, it did not meet the statutory requirement of domestic battery.
Elder is scheduled to appear in Vigo Superior Court 4 on Monday morning.
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa.
News
Police arrest suspect sought in abduction
- News
-
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
- More News Headlines
-
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
Today in History May 24
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
