By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Two people from Hutchinson got more than they bargained for when they attempted to give an acquaintance a ride in Salina early Friday morning.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Beverly Drive at 2:30 a.m. Friday for the report of a disturbance.
Two people from Hutchinson, a 27-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man were giving a ride to Michael J. Whitford, 29, of Salina. They were in the vicinity of Centennial Road and W. Crawford Street when a verbal altercation ensued.
Forrester said that Whitford was sitting behind the woman, who was in the front passenger seat. Whitford allegedly punched the woman in the face and then wrapped his arm around the woman's neck and began strangling her. The driver grabbed Whitford's arm and the woman was able to jump out of the vehicle in the 1600 block of Beverly Drive.
Whitford then allegedly pulled a knife on the driver and told him to drive away, Forrester said. The driver let Whitford out in the 800 block of Vassar Drive.
At approximately 1 p.m. Friday, officers were sent to the 400 block of S. 12th Street for the report of Whitford being in the area. They found him walking northbound on S. 11th Street near W. South Street and took him into custody without incident, Forrester said.
Whitford was arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.
●Aggravated kidnapping
●Aggravated battery
●Aggravated assault
●Criminal threat
●Battery