Woman taking walk on local park trail allegedly dragged into woods in attempted kidnap & assault; suspect arrested

Content Warning: Please be advised that this article discusses alleged kidnapping and attempted sexual assault.

While out on a walking trail Tuesday afternoon at 1:10 p.m., a woman was allegedly dragged into the woods by a shirtless man wearing a ski mask who emerged from the wooded area near the adjacent baseball fields. While pointing a gun at her, he told her, “Come with me or I’ll shoot you,” according to a police report Gahanna Division of Police shared with 614Now.

She was walking near 150 Parkland Dr., just a few blocks from Creekside, Gahanna. The Gahanna Police said the woman was initially able to run from the man, but he chased her down and grabbed her from her wrists from behind.

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She was then able to fight him off a second time, calling the police for help.

Police located the alleged suspect using a description from the victim. “At this time…he brought his bicycle to a stop and put his hands in the air,” says the police report. Steele had a loaded firearm on his right hip, but he’s prohibited from carrying a firearm due to a domestic conviction from Virginia. During another search, police found a silver pocket knife in his pocket.

When placed in the police cruiser, Steele reportedly confessed that it was him “with the girl,” and that he noticed the woman walking near Creekside Park before the attack. He reportedly confessed that he had thoughts of wanting to rape her, using the words “rape.”

Steele is charged with kidnapping, abduction, attempted felony, and carrying a loaded weapon.

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