Utah authorities are investigating a bizarre kidnapping incident that involved a police officer on Thanksgiving Day.
The victim, believed to be a relative of the suspected officer, told detectives that they were celebrating with Scott Elliott Russell and other family members when he offered them a ride.
“The victim became alarmed when their request to be taken home was denied.
Russell’s behavior became more irrational and paranoid, at one point, taking the victim’s phone and disabling it,” the arrest report said.
The master officer working for the South Jordan Police then stopped near an embankment, ordered the victim to lie on the ground with their face down, and got rid of their shoes.
Sometime later, he accompanied the victim to a building and called 911 to report an accident before leaving the area.
Russell was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, burglary, trespass, and interruption of a communications device.
He was placed on administrative leave after claiming he’s been “set up”. The victim has been hospitalized for minor injuries.
