Virginia police have arrested a suspect accused of attempting to abduct a college student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when James Robert Allen, 40, allegedly dragged the female student into his vehicle. However, she managed to escape when Allen crashed the vehicle on Cabell Avenue. The victim reported that she was strangled and abducted by an unknown male. Chief Michael P. Kochis of the Charlottesville Police Department confirmed that the victim and Allen did not know each other.
After the crash, the victim was transported to UVA Medical Center where she remains in stable condition. Local, state, and federal officials collaborated to locate Allen, who was subsequently taken into custody in Louisa County. The police expressed gratitude to the community for sharing Allen’s mugshot and praised the victim for her resilience.
Allen now faces charges of strangulation or suffocation and abduction. A spokesperson for the Charlottesville Police Department stated that more information about the alleged abduction will be released later. It is worth noting that Allen has a previous conviction for felony shoplifting in 2011, according to Albemarle County records.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Charlottesville Police Department. They can reach out to CPD at (434) 970-3280 or Detective Raines at (434) 970-3266.
This article was written by Audrey Conklin, a digital reporter for FOX Business. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @audpants. Stay updated with the latest news from FOX by subscribing to their newsletter.
