Apparent Abduction Led to Chase and Crash

Aitkin, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Twin Cities area man was arrested after an apparent abduction led to a chase and crash Friday afternoon in northern Minnesota.

The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that deputies and the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a two-vehicle crash several miles north of Aitkin around 2:30 PM. The law officers soon learned the driver of one of the vehicles was seen forcing a woman out of her home and into a pickup against her will.

The witnesses told investigators they used their own vehicles to chase the pickup after the man drove away from the residence. At one point during the pursuit, two of the vehicles collided and the pickup went off the rural road and rolled.

The woman was in the passenger seat and was not injured and the driver had fled into the adjoining woods. The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office brought in a K9 tracker, which led deputies to 32-year-old Stephen Karkoc of Ramsey. The news release notes there were two Domestic Abuse No Contact Orders filed against Karkoc in Freeborn and Anoka Counties barring him from having any contact with the woman involved in the incident.