SPOKANE, Wash. — A man was arrested after police say he held a woman against her will and attempted to run from police in downtown Spokane on Monday. He was released 12 hours later on his own recognizance.
According to the Spokane Police Department (SPD), officers spoke with the victim in regards to a kidnapping incident on March 25 around 4:27 p.m. Police said she had been kept inside an apartment since March 24 when she tried to leave, but the suspect stopped her and took her phone.
The victim told police the suspect had a handgun and was scared he would use it on her. SPD said the victim convinced the suspect to let her leave for work, where she received many threatening text messages.
SPD said the victim left work and tried to go to a different location when the suspect found her and threatened to shoot her if she didn’t go with him. When the suspect stopped at a red light, the victim ran out of the vehicle screaming and called 911.
Officers developed probable cause to arrest Zeenon A. Pierson, 26, for first-degree kidnapping.
SPD responded to Pierson’s residence, where he got into his vehicle and fled. Spike strips were deployed to stop the car, but he escaped.
SPD continued their search and found his car on the lower South Hill.
Additional information was obtained, and police found Pierson in the 3900 block of East 25th Avenue, where he was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for first-degree kidnapping and attempting to elude a police vehicle.
Pierson was released 12 hours later on his own recognizance.
