Accused D.C. Kidnapper Pushed Woman Into U-Haul, Stabbed Her Fingers With Pocket Knife: Police

A Maryland man was apprehended after subjecting a woman to a terrifying day-long abduction, including forcing the victim into his U-Haul truck, stripping her of her clothes and using a pocket knife to stab her fingers while driving her around, according to authorities.

On the morning of May 12, Dennis Bell, 62, encountered the victim at a party store in Washington, D.C. while driving a U-Haul truck, WJZ reported.

The victim told police Bell allegedly pushed her into a U-Haul truck and threatened her life if she did not comply with him, officials said.

Bell allegedly drove around all day with the woman sitting on the floorboard in the front seat, WJZ reported. While she was in the truck, the victim said Bell removed her clothing and used a pocket knife to stab her fingers.

According to police, the victim did not know where they were driving throughout the day.

Around 9:45 p.m. the evening of the alleged incident, police started receiving calls from motorists reporting a U-Haul truck that was driving erratically and hitting multiple parked vehicles in Lanham, officials said.

Officers responded to the area and found the U-Haul truck and attempted a felony traffic stop, but Bell refused to stop for them, according to police.

A short pursuit ensued but ended when the vehicle went into a ditch and became disabled, authorities said.

Two officers approached the passenger side of the U-Haul, but Bell refused to get out of the vehicle after multiple verbal requests, officials said. The officers were able to enter the U-Haul truck using the passenger side window, which is when they found the kidnapped woman.

The victim was sitting on the floorboard in the front seat and not wearing any clothing, officers said. She had wounds on her fingers.

She was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

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Bell remained uncooperative, but officers said they eventually arrested him and took him to a local hospital. He was then transported to the Upper Marlboro Department of Corrections, according to law enforcement officials.

He faces 14 criminal charges, including first-degree assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, fourth-degree sex offense, possession of suspected crack cocaine and driving while impaired, WJZ reported.

Bell reportedly is also facing 19 traffic charges related to the incident.

The investigation is ongoing.