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A man facing trial next week on two counts of domestic violence was arrested Thursday for kidnapping.
Edwin A. Ford, 39, of 116 N. Elm St., originally was charged May 20 with a fourth-degree felony charge of domestic violence.
He allegedly beat his wife, Lindsay, on a regular basis and was trying to prevent her from leaving their north Elm Street residence.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department at the time took photographs of the victim’s injuries, noting some were new, while some were old.
By August, he violated a civil protection order and was charged with a third-degree felony charge of domestic violence.
The Logan County Prosecutor’s Office was preparing for the two-day trial which starts Thursday and met with the victim after she escaped from his residence
During the noon time interview, Ms. Ford told an assistant prosecutor and an officer the suspect has periodically confined her in the apartment, locking the deadbolt which opens only with a key. He would take her cell phone to prevent her from calling for help.
He also has continued to beat her, breaking her ribs and injuring elsewhere. She has been given medical treatment, but lies to emergency personnel about the cause of the injuries.
The suspect takes any pain medication she receives and trades it for crack cocaine, Ms. Ford said.
When asked, she said she is afraid to leave her abuser and she does not want to be alone.
She had been continuously confined from Monday until Wednesday when she convinced him to let her go to a store to steal beer.
Instead, she fled to a friend’s residence.
The officer was instructed to arrest the suspect and he called for backup.
The defendant was taken into custody and was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
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