Pulaski Police arrest Galax man on charges of abduction
On Saturday at 6:22 a.m. officer’s from the Pulaski Police Department were called to
the 100 block of Prince Ave. in reference to a disturbance reported as a possible
abduction.
Two complainants reported that they had been held against their will at
gunpoint for approximately 8 hours the previous night and had finally managed to
escape just before calling 911.
Officers responded to the area and as they arrived, Cpl. A.S. Thompson observed a
vehicle matching the description of the one given by the victims in front of a residence in
the 100 block of Prince Ave. The vehicle abruptly drove off as Cpl. Thompson
approached and he observed it drive behind a house and then crash into a creek bed
behind the residence.
Cpl. Thompson observed a male suspect fleeing from behind the residence near where
the area where the truck had just crashed.
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Matthew Ray Russell of Galax, fled across the creek and into the woods behind Cool Springs pond.
Officers established a perimeter around the area and requested a K-9 team from Virginia
State Police to assist with searching for Russell. The VSP K-9 unit arrived on scene and
tracked Russell to a thick area of underbrush approximately 1/4 mile from the scene, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Russell was evaluated and released at Lewis Gale Hospital-Pulaski for injuries he
reported to arresting officers.
Russell was charged with two counts of abduction and
was committed to New River Regional Jail and held without bond.
During the investigation two firearms were recovered.
It was later determined that the
truck and firearms had been reported as stolen in Allegheny County, NC. Additional
charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing.
Pulaski Police Department wishes to thank Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia
State Police, Pulaski County Animal Control, REMSI, and Pulaski Fire Department for
their assistance. No further information will be released at this time.
From Pulaski Police Department