GENTRY - Police arrested Damian Lee Kelley, 20, of Gentry, on Thursday on charges of false imprisonment in the second degree, a misdemeanor.
According to police reports, Kelley was arrested for allegedly leading a 9-year-old girl - not related to him but with whom he had been playing kickball - into his apartment at 521 Whistle Stop Lane, Apt. H, on or about May 15, taking her into his bedroom, laying her on the floor and taping her up with black electrical tape so that she could not leave. When the girl tried to get up and leave, she fell to the floor, the police report states.
When the girl screamed and kicked her feet, Kelley released her and led her out of the apartment, police reports state.
The girl was afraid and did not tell a parent what happened until May 19, police said.
In a search warrant executed on Thursday, police discovered a variety of knives in Kelley’s apartment, including a knife set, police said. Also discovered was a roll of black electrical tape and pieces of tape in the trash which could have been used to tape up the hands and feet of the young girl, reports state.
No evidence of Kelley’s intent in restraining the girl had yet been found, police said.
Kelley was listed as an inmate on the Benton County Jail inmate log on Friday, with bond set at $500, surety bond.
News, Pages 1 on 05/29/2013