Updated: Thursday, 1:58 p.m.
The Arkansas City Police Department was notified Wednesday that an attempted kidnapping suspect had been arrested in Nebraska following a standoff, according to a news release Thursday.
The Grand Island (Neb.) Police Department, along with other area agencies, was contacted in case Castellanos-Mesa had returned home.
Shortly after midnight Wednesday, Grand Island police located a vehicle known to be owned by Castellanos-Mesa, parked in front of his residence.
They applied for a search warrant, which was executed at 1:26 a.m. Wednesday.
The Grand Island Police Department’s Tactical Response Team assisted at the scene after Castellanos-Mesa allegedly barricaded himself in his basement.
He eventually was taken into custody without further incident, prior to 5:23 a.m.
Mesa
Castellanos-Mesa was transported to and booked into the Hall County (Neb.) Jail on a bond of $250,000 through Cowley County District Court in Ark City. He remained in custody at the time of this report.
“The Arkansas City Police Department would like to thank the Grand Island Police Department, their Tactical Response Team, the Nebraska State Patrol and K-9 officer Cochise for all of their help, which ended with the locating and arrest of Leongrys Castellanos-Mesa,” said Ark City Police Chief Dan Ward
Police initially were dispatched Monday afternoon for a report of a disturbance in a vehicle northbound from the intersection of 15th Street and Radio Lane.
At 4:38 p.m., Cowley County Emergency Communications received a call from a citizen who reported that a woman was injured and out of a vehicle in the area south of 252nd Road and 51st Road.
An officer arrived and learned a 27-year-old Ark City woman had been involved in the disturbance, after which a male suspect had fled in the woman’s vehicle. The female victim was transported by the Ark City Fire-EMS Department to South Central Kansas Medical Center.
Investigators later learned the suspect — identified as Leongrys Castellanos-Mesa, 35, of Grand Island, Nebraska — had entered the woman’s van unlawfully and hid until he reportedly attacked her.
Cowley County District Court issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for Castellanos-Mesa on suspicion of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary of a motor vehicle, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, battery-domestic violence, criminal threat, stalking and theft.
The initial incident took place within the city limits of Ark City and then moved north, out of the city limits, where the woman was able to attempt to flee her attacker. She suffered injuries in the attempt, but was successful in reaching safety. Castellanos-Mesa then allegedly fled the scene in her car.
Officers were able to identify the suspect quickly and placed notifications to other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the suspect and the victim’s vehicle, a silver Toyota Sienna minivan.
From Tuesday:
Police in Ark City are looking for a Nebraska man suspected of kidnapping a local woman for a short time, before stealing her van and fleeing in it.
An arrest warrant has been issued through Cowley County Dist. Court for 35-year-old Loengrys Castellanos Mesa, of Grand Island, Neb.
He is wanted on suspicion of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary of a motor vehicle, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, battery-domestic violence, criminal threat, stalking and theft. The bond set for the warrant is listed at $250,000.
Police initially were dispatched Monday afternoon for a report of a disturbance in a vehicle northbound from the intersection of 15th Street and Radio Lane, according to a press release.
At 4:38 p.m., Cowley County Emergency Communications received a call from a citizen who reported that a woman was injured and out of a vehicle in the area south of 252nd Road and 51st Road. An officer arrived and learned a 27-year-old Arkansas City woman had been involved in the disturbance, after which a male suspect had fled in the woman’s vehicle.
The female victim was transported from the scene by the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department to South Central Kansas Medical Center for further treatment.
Investigators later learned that Castellanos Mesa had entered the woman’s van unlawfully and hid until he reportedly attacked her.
The initial incident took place within the city limits of Arkansas City and then moved north, out of the city limits, where the woman was able to attempt to flee her attacker. She suffered injuries in the attempt, but was successful in reaching safety. Castellanos Mesa then allegedly fled the scene in her vehicle.
Officers were able to identify the suspect quickly and placed notifications to other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the suspect and the victim’s vehicle, a silver Toyota Sienna minivan.
“There is no immediate threat to the community. The suspect is known to the victim,” Capt. Eric Burr, of the Arkansas City Police Department, said of the incident. “We truly appreciate the citizens who rendered aid to the victim and reported the incident. We would ask that anyone with information on Castellanos Mesa’s whereabouts please call their local law enforcement agency.”
Anyone with information about this incident may contact the Arkansas City Police Department at (620) 441-4444.
Those wishing to remain anonymous also may contact Cowley County Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest.
Call (620) 442-7777 in Arkansas City or (620) 221-7777 in Winfield, or visit www.tipsubmit.com or accs.crimestoppersweb.com to make an anonymous report.
An anonymous tip also can be submitted by texting ACTIPS to 847411.
