18-Year-Old Hawley Man Facing Charges For Kidnapping 17-Year-Old Girl

(KNOX/Valley News Live) –An 18-year-old Hawley man is facing six charges after police say he kidnapped a 17-year-old girl and drove her to two locations against her will.

Preston Thomas Larson was charged in Clay County District Court on six counts; two for kidnapping, two misdemeanor domestic assault counts, as well as domestic assault by strangulation and interfering with a 911 call. He is currently being held at the Clay County Jail.

Court documents say that Larson and the girl knew each other before the incident happened.

The girl apparently told police that she was walking in Hawley Wednesday morning when Larson pulled up in his SUV and told her to get in. She refused, and the complaint states Larson got out, grabbed her, and forced her into the vehicle despite her attempts to fight him off. He then drove ten minutes to Buffalo River State Park.

Court documents say that when the girl tried to leave the vehicle at the park, Larson dragged her back inside and drove to a second location. At that second location, he is accused of removing her pants without her consent. When she fought back, the complaint states Larson placed both hands around her neck and left visible red marks affecting her ability to breathe. The girl told police Larson eventually stopped, and she stopped resisting in an effort to get him to take her back to school. He dropped her at school at around 10am the same day.

Larson apparently also took the girl’s phone from her when he first forced her into the vehicle, preventing her from calling for help.

A witness told police she saw the girl inside the SUV appearing to plead for help and was concerned enough to call authorities, prompting the investigation.

When questioned by police, Larson admitted to grabbing the girl and forcing her into his vehicle at the park, and acknowledged putting his hand around her neck, according to the complaint. He denied initially forcing her into the vehicle and denied removing her pants, telling officers the two had been arguing and that she hit him first.

Officers observed marks on the girl’s neck consistent with strangulation, according to the complaint.