Pair charged with abduction, assault

Van Wert independent/submitted information

Two men are being charged with what is being characterized as a felonious assault/abduction case that occurred Tuesday morning.

As a result of a Van Wert Police Department investigation, Elmeco R. Crisp, 38, of Lima, is being charged with abduction and felonious assault, while James D. Wilson, 57, of 412½ S. Washington St., was taken into custody on a charge of felonious assault. All three charges are felony offenses.

According to Van Wert Police Chief Joel Hammond, the VWPD Dispatch Center received a call at 6:55 a.m. Tuesday in which a woman claimed she was held for more than 24 hours against her will at Wilson’s residence before she was able to get away and contact police. The alleged victim’s name has not been released.

Based on information provided by the alleged victim, police obtained a search warrant that was served at Wilson’s South Washington Street residence by the department’s Special Response Team at 10:46 a.m. Tuesday.

Charges were filed by city police based on statements from the alleged victim, as well as corroborating evidence recovered at the Wilson residence. The Van Wert County Prosecutor’s Office is also reviewing the case.

Chief Hammond noted that the investigation is continuing, with no further information available at this time. Both Crisp and Wilson are scheduled to make an initial appearance on the charges in Van Were Municipal Court at 9 a.m. Thursday.

In addition, the Van Wert County Grand Jury will have its regular February session this Friday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, and there’s a possibility that this case could be brought before that session, although the timeline may be too short to do so.

Last updated at 11:40 a.m. 2/5/14