Scottdale, PA – A 29-year-old man from Scottdale has been charged after police say he kidnapped a woman, forced her into the woods overnight at gunpoint, and later threatened to burn down her home.
Shawn Prince was arrested in Kentucky on Saturday morning and is awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania. He faces charges of kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats, and harassment, according to Scottdale Police.
The incident began October 1 when officers were dispatched to a Jennings Avenue residence for a welfare check. The victim’s family told police they had not heard from her since a prior domestic incident involving Prince earlier in the week. When officers arrived, they found the door open and the victim’s phone inside but no sign of her.
Moments later, police learned the victim had called 911 and arrived at the Scottdale Police Department seeking help. She told investigators Prince kidnapped her on Monday morning following the initial domestic incident. According to the criminal complaint, she said Prince threatened to cut her friend’s child’s throat if she refused to go with him.
The victim reported that Prince drove her to a rural wooded location she did not recognize and put a gun to her head after forcing her out of the car. She said the two stayed there through the night before he began driving again the next morning. At some point, Prince allegedly nodded off and allowed her to drive.
The woman told police she recognized the area near Ohiopyle and headed directly to the Scottdale Police station, where she managed to escape the vehicle and call 911. Prince allegedly shouted threats as he drove away, vowing to burn down her house.
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Prince was taken into custody later in Kentucky and will be returned to face charges in Westmoreland County.
A desperate escape ended with an arrest across state lines.