Man arrested after trying to kidnap 16-year-old boy, police say

DELHI TWP. — A man has been arrested in Delhi Township after allegedly attempting to kidnap a 16-year-old boy, originally reported by our news partner WCPO.

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Christian Austin used a gun to force the teenager into his truck near the 1000 block of Betty Lane on Thursday around 7:30 p.m., police say.

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Austin placed the gun at the teen’s side saying something like, “I don’t want to do it, but I got to do it,” the affidavit stated.

Delhi Township police say there have been a few car break-ins in the neighborhood recently and it appears Austin got into a fight with the teenager because he assumed the 16-year-old was possibly trying to break into cars.

That is when police say Austin ended up holding the teen at gunpoint and forcing him into the truck.

Austin drove the truck to the nearby United Dairy Farmers on Cleves Warsaw Road in Cincinnati, police say.

The teenager was able to escape from the truck there. Officers say Austin threatened the teenager with the gun again to get back in the truck.

Documents state Austin racked the gun in front of the juvenile.

Austin was arrested around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. He is charged with having an illegal firearm by a convicted felon.

A judge set his bond at $76,000. Austin is expected to go before a grand jury on Dec. 23.

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