Hartley, Iowa — An Archer man is behind bars, facing a kidnapping charge after he allegedly forced a woman into a car and drove away.
The O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office reports that the incident started about 2:30 Friday afternoon, May 3rd in Hartley. They say that they received a report from a witness that an adult woman was near Neeble Park in Hartley and was taken against her will and forced into a car. The Sheriff’s Office says they found out that the abductor was the woman’s ex-boyfriend and they had allegedly recently broken up. The Sheriff’s Office reports that the Hartley Police department responded to the call and asked for all law enforcement in the area to watch for the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office tells us that the man was reported to be driving a black 2011 Audi and had allegedly left Neeble Park eastbound at a high rate of speed with the woman in his car.
According to the sheriff’s office, shortly after 4:30 p.m., an Iowa State Trooper located the vehicle on Highway 59 south of Calumet. An O’Brien County Sheriff’s Deputy and the Hartley Police Chief assisted the State Trooper at the scene of the traffic stop. They tell us that the female victim was recovered and was taken to the Hartley Police Department for a follow-up interview.
The sheriff’s office tells us 37-year-old Justin Michael Banta of Archer was taken into custody and transported to the O’Brien County Jail. He was reportedly charged with Third Degree Kidnapping, a class C Felony; and misdemeanor charges of Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense and Driving While Suspended.
According to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, Banta went before a magistrate on Saturday morning and is currently being held on a $10,000 dollar bond. A no-contact order was also issued between Banta and the victim.
