Suspect arrested in attempted kidnapping at south Charlotte bus stop

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police told Channel 9 the man accused of trying to kidnap a woman at a south Charlotte bus stop has been arrested and is in jail.

>>Channel 9's Elsa Gillis is speaking with the victim about what gave her the strength to fight back on Eyewitness News at 5. 

G4S police -- officers who work with CATS and patrol the light rail -- arrested Kelvin Jones on an unrelated case but recognized him as the kidnapping suspect from photos that were released on Tuesday.

Jones, 53, was arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Channel 9 learned Jones was released from jail in September after spending nearly 12 years behind bars.

Hours before the arrest, CMPD released photos of a person of interest in the case.

(Kelvin Jones)

Police said they responded just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday to South Boulevard near I-485, where they found a 23-year-old woman who had been cut on her face.

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Officers learned the victim had been dropped off by a CATS bus and was waiting for an Uber when a man approached her from behind with a knife.

"The suspect approached her from behind, put his arm around her neck, was armed with a knife, and told her not to turn around and began to have her walk with him," CMPD Capt. Rob Dance said.

Police said the suspect grabbed the woman and demanded she go with him. The victim fought back, though, and used a stun gun on the suspect. She was able to escape but was cut during the struggle.

In released 911 calls, the victim told police she had been stabbed by the suspect.

"I just got stabbed right here inside of the I-485 station," the victim said when she called police.

"Hold on. Hold on. Hold On. You just you got stabbed," the 911 operator asked.

"Yes ma'am. I got stabbed," the victim said.

The victim was taken to the hospital but will be OK.

Channel 9 asked CATS for any surveillance video that might have captured a good look at the suspect and what happened.

Riders were shocked to learn what happened.

"Definitely is disturbing that that happened," Rodney Davis said. "I hope that she is OK and everybody take heed."

"It makes me scared," Kenneth Thompson said. "If I would've known I wouldn't have rode the train, I'm serious."

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600. Officials had offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Cox Media Group