Suspected kidnapper arrested

A man who allegedly kidnapped a co-worker from her home and threatened to kill two other employees at the UPS office in Kalispell was arrested Wednesday.

"It sounds bizarre. Workplace violence is bizarre," said detective Sgt. Brian Fulford of the Kalispell Police Department.

Arrested was Charles Jones, 49, of Kalispell. He faces charges of assault with a weapon and kidnapping. More charges, including felony intimidation, may be filed, Fulford said.

The story began when a 25-year-old employee of UPS said that Jones, a fellow contracted worker, appeared Wednesday afternoon at her home on Three Mile Drive.

Fulford said that Jones threatened to shoot two other employees at the business if they showed up at work Wednesday night. Jones allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the woman's face. He ordered her to call the other two employees, Fulford said. When she told him she did not have a phone, he took her to Kalispell Center Mall where she tried, and failed, to contact the two employees, Fulford said.

Jones then took the woman home, according to a press release from the Police Department.

After she contacted police, they tried to locate Jones. Fulford said Jones recently had moved and had been secretive at work about where he lived. The officers located his residence and staked it out.

Police stopped Jones at about 8 p.m. on Airport Road as he reportedly left home for work and took him into custody. A .32-caliber Magnum Smith and Wesson Airweight pistol was visible on the front seat of Jones' vehicle, Fulford said. It was loaded, he said.

Police Chief Frank Garner said an altercation reportedly had occurred between Jones and the two employees.

Garner credits Fulford and detective Jim Wardensky for working hard on the case.

Fulford said that though the woman's story first sounded strange, "You cannot afford to not look into it further."

He praised patrol officers for "their commitment to community safety and first-rate tactical training," and cooperation from the community for "working together to avoid a great tragedy."

"When the whole story comes out, you'll realize how close it was," Fulford said.