Arrest Made In Abduction, Robbery Cases

Police said a registered sex offender has been arrested in connection with attacks on women Wednesday in Kansas City and Lawrence, Kan.

Both attacks occurred in the parking lots of busy shopping areas.

Donald Bartsma, 40, of Wichita, Kan., is being held in the Clay County Jail.

According to court documents, Bartsma approached a woman in the parking lot of a J.C. Penney's store on North Flintlock Road Wednesday night. He asked for directions and when the woman got in her car, he forced his way in behind her and held a knife to her neck, police said.

Bartsma allegedly told the woman they were going to a bank to withdraw her money, but she managed to escape when her abductor reached for the keys, which were in the back seat, court documents show. The woman jumped out of the car and ran back toward the department store to get help.

Officers said Bartsma sped off in the woman's car. Police spotted the car and arrested Bartsma after a chase in which he weaved in and out of traffic on Interstates 35 and 45, officers said.

In court documents, Bartsma told police that he had robbed the victim with a knife because he was out of money.

Police in Lawrence said Bartsma is a suspect in a similar crime Wednesday afternoon. A woman was kidnapped outside a Kohl's store and was forced to withdraw money from her bank.

Bartsma was charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and resisting arrest. His bond is set at $1 million.

Court documents show that Bartsma has a rape conviction on his record.

More charges are expected to be filed in Douglas County, Kan.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• KMBC
• Kansas
• City
• Lawrence
• abduction
• carjack
• robbery
• store
• parking
• lot