A Minnesota man allegedly struck a woman with his car, removed her body off the street in broad daylight, and dumped her in an alleyway, despite telling onlookers he was “taking her to the emergency room,” according to police.
Metris Javon Bell, 31, was driving in Duluth when he allegedly hit the woman and dragged her to an alley behind the 100 block of East 3rd Street, according to local Fox station KQDS.
According to the documents obtained by the TV station, Bell attacked the woman shortly before 11 a.m. and then pulled her corpse into his car while a bystander watched.
Bell allegedly told the witness that he was transporting the woman to a nearby hospital as he moved her from the street to his vehicle. Police said he was captured on surveillance cameras driving down an alleyway near the Damiano Center, a social services center, just before striking the victim, according to KQDS.
Bell was allegedly recorded on video driving through Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood before choosing an alley near East 3rd Street. According to police, he was not on camera when the woman was dropped.
Someone discovered the victim and phoned the police. She told officers she remembered being hit by a car but had no idea how she ended up in the alley. She dimly remembered being moved to the alley, but she couldn’t tell who drove her.
The woman was taken to the hospital and treated for several injuries.
Police said they tracked Bell down using security footage that showed him driving. He was arrested and charged with “kidnapping – victim not released in a safe place” and “criminal vehicular operation – substantial bodily harm – driver who causes collision leaves scene,” according to online arrest records.
Bell was being held on Thursday without bond. His next court date is set for December 9, according to KQDS. He has multiple offenses on his record, including previous narcotics accusations.
