ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man suspected of kidnapping a woman and her child last month has been arrested, St. Louis police said Thursday.
Martez Hopgood was arrested on Tuesday and charged on Wednesday with domestic assault and kidnaping in connection with the Dec. 28 incident.
Police had been looking for Hopgood for nearly a month after a woman said he held her and her child against their will for hours.
Police said Hopgood held his ex-girlfriend and her child hostage at a home on Terry Avenue from 8 p.m. Dec. 27 to 1 a.m. Dec. 28. The woman told police she and her child were able to escape in the early morning hours and fled to a home about a block away, where they called 911.
The woman said Hopgood assaulted her while he was holding them captive.
Ring doorbell camera video shared with 5 On Your Side showed the woman and child trying to get into the nearby home. The video also shows a man coming to the door moments after they are let inside.
A man is seen on the doorbell camera moments later.
The woman told police Hopgood was her ex-boyfriend. The original incident report listed the incident as a violation of an order of protection, but prosecutors did not charge him with violating any court order.
Hopgood was charged with one count of second-degree domestic assault, one count of fourth-degree domestic assault and one count of thrid-degree kidnapping. He was also charged with one count of first-degree harassment in an incident related to this case that occurred on Jan. 10.
Resources for those experiencing domestic violence
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Safe Connections Crisis Helpline at 314-531-2003. You can also text that number from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, free of charge.
Alternatives to Living In Violent Environments also has a crisis line at 314-993-2777. ALIVE also has hotline specifically for those in Franklin County at 800-941-9144.
The Women's Safe House can be reached 24 hours a day at 314-772-4535.
