Man arrested in Cedar Rapids on charges of kidnapping

CEDAR RAPIDS — A man from southern Iowa’s Mystic was arrested last week in Cedar Rapids on charges he held his girlfriend and their infant son captive with a knife.

Russell Thomas Clark, 39, is charged with two counts each of second-degree kidnapping, child endangerment and obstruction of emergency communications, as well as one count each of domestic abuse assault, general assault, assault while participating in a felony, first-degree harassment and interference with official acts.

The 13-year-old daughter of Clark’s girlfriend called 911 about 9:20 a.m. Friday, after Clark hit her and she escaped to a neighbor’s house in the 1200 block of 15th St. SE, according to a criminal complaint.

Police arrived to find Clark had barricaded himself, his girlfriend and their infant son in an upstairs bedroom. He broke two cellphones to prevent the woman from calling for help, the complaint states. He had a knife, which he held to the woman’s throat, threatening to kill her if police approached.

The Cedar Rapids Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to talk with Clark and get him to come out peacefully, but eventually a special response team went into the house and used a stun gun to subdue and arrest him, according to police. No one was injured in the incident.

Clark is being held in the Linn County Jail without bond. A no contact order has been filed on behalf of the woman.

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