BROWNSVILLE — A 35-year-old man has been arrested on aggravated kidnapping charges that allege he abducted his girlfriend at knifepoint.
Santiago Gallegos was arrested Tuesday on one count of aggravated kidnapping, Brownsville police said.
He and his apparent victim were stopped in San Benito after leaving Brownsville.
They were questioned by San Benito Police and he was later taken into custody.
The original incident happened on Esperanza Drive in Brownsville.
Police received a call of a woman who possibly had been kidnapped. A witness told police she saw the woman being forced into a vehicle in the McDonald’s restaurant parking lot on Esperanza Street, police reported.
The witness asked the woman if she needed help, and the victim said no.
Gallegos reportedly told the witness to mind her own business.
The vehicle was driven by Gallegos’ mother, who was driving the couple to Harlingen, Brownsville police spokesman J.J. Trevino said.
The vehicle left the scene. A lookout was issued, and it was spotted heading toward Harlingen.
A San Benito police officer stopped the vehicle on Ed Carey Drive and questioned both Gallegos and the apparent victim.
She told police Gallegos had grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened to kill her if she did not leave with him.
Gallegos’ mother also was questioned and gave a statement that backed up what the other woman said, Trevino reported.
Gallegos was arrested and taken to the Brownsville City Jail. He was arraigned on the charge, and his bond was set at $40,000.
