A man who pulled a handgun on a woman, forced her into a car and took her from a Clinton residence was found by Sampson County Sheriff’s deputies and arrested on assault and kidnapping charges early Sunday following a 911 call, according to reports.
Officers received an emergency call to 911 on a “kidnapping in progress” at 318 Mattie Byrd Lane, Clinton, shortly after midnight Saturday, into the early morning hours Sunday. According to Sheriff’s Lt. Marcus Smith, the caller was able to give dispatchers a suspect vehicle description, which was relayed to responding officers.
Deputies responding to the scene were able to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, a Honda Accord, subsequently detaining the suspect. During a search of the vehicle, a semi-automatic Smith and Wesson handgun was found and seized.
“An investigation into the incident was conducted and enough probable cause was established to charge the suspect in the case,” Smith stated Monday.
Osman Acosta, 30, of 1576 Pope Road, Clinton, was charged with kidnapping, assault on a female and assault by pointing a gun. He was served the charges at the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office early Sunday and placed in the Sampson County Detention Center.
A 26-year-old female victim, reportedly of the same Pope Road address as Acosta, was not injured during the ordeal, authorities said.
“The victim was not harmed during the incident and was an acquaintance to the suspect,” noted Smith, who praised the work of those involved, from the 911 call to the traffic stop, in apprehending the man allegedly responsible. “The dispatchers and deputies did an outstanding job in this case and certainly their teamwork, along with an alert caller, helped save this victim (from) harm.”
Acosta was placed under $150,000 secured bond and given a court date of Oct. 9.