Kidnapping Suspect Arrested After Standoff on Minnesota Freeway
Mankato, MN (KROC-AM News)- Authorities in Rice County arrested a 33-year-old suspected kidnapper following a standoff on I-35 Tuesday night.
A news release from Mankato Public Safety says officers responded to the report of 33-year-old Xia-Ziang Plunkett taking her biological son from a Mankato residence shortly before 10:30 p.m. Authorities say Plunkett had no custodial rights to take the child.
The Rice County Sheriff’s Office says they obtained a description of Plunkett’s vehicle from Mankato Public Safety. The vehicle was then spotted and stopped by Lonsdale police officers in the area of the I-35/Hwy. 19 interchange near the Rice-Dakota County line around 11:30 p.m.
Plunkett pulled over but did not exit the vehicle which prompted law enforcement to close part of I-35 while negotiations over the phone began. Plunkett then exited the vehicle and was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas said.
The child was found safe and returned to protective custody, according to Thomas. Plunkett was initially booked into the Rice County jail. Officials say she will be transported to the Blue Earth County jail.
The case remains under investigation. The Rice County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Lonsdale Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeville Police Department, Apple Valley Police Department, Rice County Dispatchers and the South Metro Swat Team.
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