By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
A 22-year-old Princeton man faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, after he refused to let a female passenger get out of the car that he was driving, according to the Princeton Police Department.
Benjamin Li, 22, of Princeton, has been charged with kidnapping, criminal restraint and receiving stolen property in connection with the incident, which was reported at 11:16 p.m. Nov. 28, police said. Additional charges may be filed as a result of the ongoing investigation.
A Princeton police officer, who was parked on Nassau Street near Witherspoon Street, saw a 2001 Mercedes-Benz traveling east on Nassau Street and heard a female passenger screaming for help, police said. The officer stopped the Mercedes-Benz on Nassau Street, near South Tulane Street.
At that point, the 20-year-old female passenger, who lives in Plainsboro Township, got out of the car on the passenger side. She told police that Mr. Li, who was driving the car, refused to let her out of the car while he drove through several towns over a three-hour period.
The woman also told police that Mr. Li threatened to kill her, and punched her in the upper arm. He allegedly stole the woman’s cell phone during the incident, police said.
Mr. Li was taken to the Mercer County Correctional Center on $225,000 bail, without the 10-percent option.
