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Boreal Community Media

Kidnapping in International Falls leads to pursuit

Sep 16, 2020 06:53AM ● By Editor
Photo: KBJR-TV

By Kaitlyn Moffet of KBJR-TV - September 15, 2020

An investigation is underway following a kidnapping and pursuit that began in International Falls and ended 60 miles away in Orr.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff's office, police in International Falls received a report of a kidnapping just after 5 pm Tuesday.

Officials say an adult woman was forced into a van by a man known to her.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's office located the vehicle driving on Highway 53 near Lake Kabetogema around 8:30 Tuesday night. Police began a vehicle pursuit and deployed stop sticks, damaging the van's wheels, but the pursuit continued.

Eventually, the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a motel on the 4400 block of Highway 53 in the City of Orr.

The kidnapping victim fled the vehicle and was later located and taken to Essentia Health-Virginia to be evaluated. Officers heard a single gunshot from inside the van and found the suspect with a self-inflicted wound to the head.

The suspect was airlifted to Essentia in Duluth with life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured during the incident. No officers discharged their weapons.

BCA crime scene personnel are processing the scene in Orr. The investigation is being led by the International Falls Police Department.

To read the original story and see related reporting, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website.  https://kbjr6.com/2020/09/16/kidnapping-in-international-falls-leads-to-pursuit/

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