Man in custody for alleged kidnapping in Marshall Co.

Marshall County (MN) authorities say a man was taken into custody in connection with an alleged kidnapping.

The County Sheriff’s office says, at 4:43 AM on July 10, a caller said two girls, ages 12 and 14, were forced into a vehicle driven by Julio Clauson at a park in Stephen (MN).

The S-O says the girls knew Clauson through conversations on Snapchat.

The caller was following the vehicle … and said Clauson was trying to lose them…  driving recklessly around Stephen … then heading toward Warren at speeds in excess of 100 mph.

Clauson later went south on Highway 75 toward Crookston…and was eventually stopped by Polk County Sheriff’s deputies.

Authorities say the girls were not in the vehicle at that time, but Marshall County deputies found the girls unharmed … as they walked back to Warren on Highway 75.

Clauson was taken into custody by Polk County deputies for warrants out of St. Louis County.

Charges against Clauson are pending in Marshall County.

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Marshall County Sheriff’s Office release:

On July 10, 2021, at 4:43 a.m., the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible kidnapping in progress.  The caller stated that two juvenile females (ages 12 and 14) were forced into a vehicle driven by Julio Clauson.  The caller and another individual were following the vehicle and giving the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office information about were the vehicle was going.  The caller stated Julio is trying to lose them.

Julio Clauson took the girls from the park in Stephen, Minnesota.  The girls where there with a few other friends.  The 3 friends left for a bit and when coming back they saw Clauson there talking with the two girls.  They knew who Clauson was because of conversations on Snapchat.  Clauson was using aggressive language and gestures towards them and the girls where scared and got into his vehicle.  Clauson was driving recklessly around Stephen trying to lose the caller and then eventually headed south on Highway 75 towards Warren, MN.  Clauson was driving at speeds excess of 100 mph.  Clauson drove around Warren for awhile, then headed south on Highway 75 towrds Crookston.  Clauson was eventually stopped by Polk County Sheriff’s Office.  The girls were not in the vehicle at that time, but were found by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office walking back to Warren on Highway 75.  The girls were unharmed.

Julio Clauson was taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for warrants out of St. Louis County.  There are pending charges on Julio Clauson out of Marshall County.