Cedar Rapids man charged with kidnapping girlfriend

Alex R. Gales, 25, is charged with kidnapping and assault after he cut his girlfriend with a knife while holding her captive in their northeast Cedar Rapids apartment Sunday. Gales initially escaped arrest, but returned to the scene and fell asleep, police said.

Officers responding to a disturbance at 353 Ginny Lane NE at a few minutes before 5 a.m. found the victim, 21, with three stab wounds, police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said. She told police she'd been choked and punched by Gales, who kept her in the mobile home by brandishing a butcher knife and who had left the scene before police arrived.

The victim was treated at St. Luke's Hospital. She returned to her residence about three hours, she found Gales asleep on the couch. She called police and waited outside until police arrived and arrested Gales.

There is a valid a no-contact order banning contact between Gales and the victim, Hamblin said.

Charged with second-degree kidnapping and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, Gales remains in the Linn County Jail in lieu of $38,000 bail.