Woman found safe after video showed her seemingly being forcibly taken in Kansas

A woman seen on video being taken from a home during what authorities in Kansas described as a possible abduction was found safe and without significant injuries, police said Tuesday.

The Wichita Police Department said investigators believe the incident early Sunday is a case of possible domestic violence in which the 35-year-old woman was victimized by her boyfriend.

Police said a 22-year-old man, whose name they did not release, was arrested and booked on charges of aggravated battery strangulation, two counts of domestic simple battery, and criminal restraint. The Sedgwick County Office of the District Attorney will decide whether to formally bring charges.

The woman called police Tuesday afternoon and was interviewed by investigators, Wichita police said.

At around 7 p.m. officers with the department’s Domestic Intervention and Violence Reduction team located the 22-year-old man and arrested him, police said.

The department released home security video earlier showing a man grabbing the woman from behind and dragging her down the driveway of a home. The woman can be heard screaming.

“Your assistance is vital in helping us ensure her safety,” police said Monday on X. “If you recognize her or have any information about her identity or whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately.”

The incident happened around 2 a.m. in the 1400 block of North Volutsia, police said. The woman lives in the area, they said Tuesday.

The homeowner reported the video to police Sunday evening.

The homeowner, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons, said she did not recognize the woman. She does not normally check her security camera video, she added.

“Something just told me to look at it. And I normally don’t look at it, and something told me to look, and I saw it,” she said.

Crime Stoppers had offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the alleged victim’s identity, and police asked regional and federal law enforcement agencies for assistance.

“We want to thank the public for sharing the video and still images that generated additional attention about this incident, we do believe it led the female to call us saying she was the person we were looking for,” the police department said Tuesday.

If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline for help at (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or go to www.thehotline.org for more. States often have domestic violence hotlines, as well.