By Theodore Decker
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus woman who police say was kidnapped at gunpoint by her ex-boyfriend yesterday was shot three times during a desperate but successful bid to escape him — by jumping from their car at a Northwest Side fire station.
The suspect, identified by police as 20-year-old Carlos Martin, was arrested about 90 minutes later, after he leaped into the Olentangy River near Ohio State University and was shocked with a Taser during a confrontation with police on the riverbank.
The woman, whose name police didn’t release yesterday, was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital in stable condition. She was shot twice in her shoulder and once in her neck, though police described the neck wound as a grazing injury.
Detectives with the Columbus police domestic-violence unit said they were still sorting out many details of what happened yesterday. The incident unfolded at several scenes throughout the Northwest Side.
Detective Aaron Mall said the woman was kidnapped at gunpoint from her home earlier in the day by Martin, who forced the woman to drive around.
At roughly 3 p.m., she saw her best chance for escape as they neared Columbus Fire Station No. 11 on W. Case Road near Don Scott Field. She pulled into the fire station’s driveway, jumped from the car and ran for safety, police said.
“As she was getting out of the car, he shot her,” Mall said.
As the woman was aided by firefighters, Martin climbed into the car and drove off, Mall said.
Police began scouring the Northwest Side for Martin, and a call from him to police eventually brought them to the area of Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road on campus.
Martin threatened to harm himself in the call. As police closed in about 4:30 p.m., he got out of his car and waded into the river.
Several officers followed Martin into the water, eventually getting him back to the riverbank and using a Taser on him to take him into custody. He reportedly was holding a knife when he came out of the water.
Last night, Martin faced charges that included kidnapping and assault.
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