Police thwart possible kidnapping
By Amy Robinson
Farmer Staff Writer
On Tuesday, May 19, what started out as a possible kidnapping call ultimately ended up being a domestic-based incident where 56-year-old Wade Cody was arrested and booked into the McKenzie County Jail on two counts, including a felony.
According to the Watford City Police Department, officers responded to a possible kidnapping call at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Tuesday at approximately 3 p.m. The reporting party, Ana Jacobs, told officers that a female had come into the church and asked her for help.
Jacobs said that the woman was with a man and that the woman had attempted to give her a note, but had then taken it away after noticing that the man was nearby. The woman ended up leaving the note on the roadway while leaving the church and Jacobs noticed it.
When Jacobs opened up the note, it asked the reader to please call 911. It went on to say that she was being severely abused by Cody, who was driving a brown and white Chevrolet Lindy RV. The unidentified woman included her name in the note and provided information regarding Cody’s criminal background. The note ended with the words, “HELP!!”
“When we arrived on scene, there was a note left by the victim stating she was being abused and requesting help,” said a Watford City police officer. “It also included a description of the suspect’s vehicle, and we were informed that the suspect might have a firearm.”
Officers read the note and collected it as evidence. A search for the man and woman then ensued with Jesse Wellen, Watford City Assistant Police Chief, who ended up finding a vehicle matching the description in the note near the First Lutheran Church in Watford City.
“The vehicle was located at the First Lutheran Church,” said the same officer. “The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office also responded for assistance at this point, and law enforcement did enter the church with their firearms brandished, but not pointed at anyone. We had to take this necessary precaution due to the possibility of the suspect having a gun.”
Law enforcement officers did locate an individual matching the description given in the First Lutheran Church, and he was detained by the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office. An NCIC search was performed on Cody, which indicated an active protection order with the woman named as the protected party. Officers also found out that Cody had been charged and convicted of a violation of a protection order in Colorado on Jan. 31, 2015.
Once the victim was located near the First Lutheran Church, she informed officers that she had been with Cody for approximately four years, during which time she had a protection order in place. She also informed officers that she had been physically assaulted by Cody the evening of May 18.
Cody has been charged with Violation of a Domestic Violence Protection Order - 2nd or Subsequent Offense, a Class C Felony, and Simple Assault - Domestic Violence, a Class B Misdemeanor. His bond was set at $7,500 cash or surety and a Preliminary Hearing and/or Arraignment has been set for July 2, at 8:30 a.m.