BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an incident in Barton County.
Just before 6p.. Sunday, police were dispatched to a business in Great Bend after receiving a report of a woman who had run into the business stating that a man was following her, according to a media release from Great Bend Police.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the victim, who reported that she had been restrained inside a residence by Mario Lira, 30, and was not allowed to leave.
The victim reported that she eventually pretended to be sick in an attempt to get away from Lira. She stated that Lira subsequently gave her a ride to the hospital but refused to allow her to exit the vehicle.
A short time later, the victim attempted to exit the moving vehicle. According to the victim, Lira restrained her and repeatedly threatened to crash the vehicle and kill them both. While the vehicle was stopped at an intersection, the victim was able to escape from the vehicle and flee on foot to the nearby business, and the business employees contacted 911.
Officers later located Lira, and he was placed under arrest. Lira was booked into the Barton County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping, Criminal Threat, Criminal Restraint, and Domestic Battery.