Stevens Charged With Campbell Kidnapping

A Quinlan man was arrested Sunday in connection with a Campbell kidnapping.

Charles Ray Stevens, 52, of Quinlan is in the Lamar County Jail, according to Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks.

"So far, he has been charged with Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Evading Arrest and Kidnapping," Meeks said.

A kidnapping occurred at a residence in Campbell on Sunday morning.

"The victim, whose name is not being released, reportedly was forced at knifepoint into a vehicle by her boyfriend," the sheriff’s office stated. "This began an extensive investigation by the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office that eventually involved law enforcement in Oklahoma. The lengthy criminal event finally came to its conclusion late Sunday night following a high-speed pursuit and standoff in Lamar County."

The suspect reportedly drove the victim north into Oklahoma in the victim’s car. When he stopped at a grocery store in Boswell Okla., the victim, still handcuffed, escaped from the vehicle. She was assisted by citizens who contacted the Choctaw County Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office. The suspect then fled the area in the victim’s car.

The Hunt County Texas Sheriff’s Office continued the investigation and tracked the suspect throughout the day.

"We received a tremendous amount of cooperation from the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office and several Texas law enforcement agencies working this case," Sheriff Meeks said. He said the Choctaw County, Okla., Sheriff’s Office "was crucial in responding to secure the victim’s safety as well as gathering evidence and disseminating valuable information in a timely manner."

The sheriff’s office said information was disseminated throughout the day to police officers throughout Oklahoma and Texas. "Later in the afternoon, officers in Lamar County Texas spotted the vehicle traveling back towards Hunt County. A high-speed pursuit ensued ending in a several-hour standoff with Texas law enforcement from multiple agencies. Eventually, the suspect was taken into custody. He was transported to the Lamar County jail."

"I want to commend our Criminal Investigation Division for the great work that they accomplished on the homicide in Waco Bay Estates and on the kidnapping incident in Campbell. They worked around the lock on both of these cases, and suspects in both incidents are in jail."

Sheriff Meeks credited "extreme diligence and professionalism on the part of the multiple agencies for bringing this lengthy criminal event to the best conclusion possible."

"Communication was excellent" he stated. "Lt. Lana Adams was pivotal in the developing events." Meeks had great words of encouragement for communications officer Gwen Vandiver who stayed on top of the situation throughout the day and for investigator Joel Gibson. "Joel literally worked throughout the night on an unrelated homicide investigation. After only a few hours of sleep, he then returned and worked all afternoon on this case."

The sheriff said the investigation continued, and several additional charges were expected to be filed. The suspect also faces charges in Choctaw County, Okla., and Lamar County. "Federal charges may be pursued as well since the suspect crossed state lines in the commission of multiple felonies," he said.