Troopers: Man Kidnapped Woman


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First Published March 19, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
Last Updated March 20, 2008, 5:30 a.m.

REDWOOD, N.Y. —  A 42-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning on charges he forced a 35-year-old woman to perform a sex act and kidnapped her, according to state police.

Troopers in Alexandria Bay say they responded to a complaint at about 5 a.m. Wednesday in which a woman alleged she had been held against her will by Michael E. Gatz, of 44600 Stine Road, after he invited her to his home.

When she pulled into his driveway at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, Mr. Gatz fired a silver handgun into the air and forced her to exit her vehicle, according to court documents.

She was taken inside the house where he forced her to disrobe and perform oral sex, police alleged in documents.  

The woman was later restrained with dog leashes and belts, taken to her van, where she was placed in the back, bound, and driven to the Rochester area, according to arrest affidavits.

Mr. Gatz allegedly told her that she was his "hostage" and threatened to shoot himself during the drive to Rochester, according to court documents. He is also accused of making threats to kill her, police said.

The woman told investigators that she pleaded for her life.

At about 3 a.m. Wednesday, Mr. Gatz returned the woman to the Redwood area where she negotiated her release, and subsequently contacted state police.

She was treated at River Hospital, Alexandria Bay, police said.

Mr. Gatz was charged with second-degree kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing.

He was arraigned in Alexandria Town Court before Justice Louis H. Perry Jr. and sent to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building under $100,000 cash bail pending further action by the grand jury.

State police are not releasing any other details at this time.


Official: New York State Police   |   NYTrooper.com

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