Iowa woman held hostage by man in wheelchair

Des Moines police say a knife-wielding man in a wheelchair held his girlfriend hostage in a bathroom for nearly 20 hours after fighting about disciplining the woman's child.

Police accuse 32-year-old Carlos Gomez Pellayo of forcing 26-year-old Maria Hernandez into the bathroom at knifepoint on Wednesday and refusing to let her leave until late Thursday morning.

Officers say Pellayo, who is confined to a wheelchair, blocked Hernandez's efforts to leave the bathroom and she was unable to reach a phone to call for help.

Police say they believe Pellayo may be using an alias. He was being held in the Polk County Jail without bond Thursday night on charges of domestic assault, obstruction of emergency communications and false imprisonment.

-- Associated Press