Woman reportedly kidnapped, escapes

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RED WING - Red Wing police are searching for two men believed connected to a kidnapping and attempted sexual assault late Thursday.

Officers responded to reports of a missing person at 9:17 p.m. at Potter Ridge, 1971 Neal St. A woman had reportedly left the building, gone to the parking lot and hadn't come back.

During the investigation, police received a report at 12:09 a.m. Friday that a woman in need of help showed up at S.B. Foot Tanning Co. on Bench Street. She turned out to be the missing woman.

The 31-year-old told police that while she was in the Potter Ridge parking lot a white minivan entered the lot. She was asked for directions, then forced into the van, which drove away.

Two men were inside. One was described as a white man with a scruffy face and brownish medium-length hair.

The other man was described as a black male with a scar on his cheek and a large tattoo on his upper arm.

Both men were believed to be about 30 years old.

The alleged victim said they drove down a gravel road. The men then attempted to sexually assault her, according to the allegations. The woman fought back, ran away down the gravel road and found her way to the tannery.

She was interviewed by police and taken to Fairview Red Wing Medical Center.

The minivan had tinted windows on its sides and back panels, according to reports. It also had sliding doors and a wood-grain dashboard. The vehicle's engine reportedly runs rough.

Red Wing police Chief Tim Sletten said that while the incident bears similarities to an abduction attempt from last week, police do not know the two cases are connected.

"It's alarming, obviously," Sletten said Friday. "We're doing everything we can to locate those parties responsible."

He said investigation into both cases remains active.

On Sept. 4, a 17-year-old girl reported that she was abducted by two men — both black males — while walking down South Park Street.

The alleged victim in that case said she was taken into a white van before being sexually assaulted by the suspects.

Anyone with information about either case is urged to call 911 or dispatch at (651) 385-3155.

Tags: red wing, news, kidnapping