Trigger warning: explicit description of domestic violence
A woman may have saved herself from a tragic ending after she subtly asked for help, prompting the arrest of the man who had been spotted driving her away. The incident has led to charges of attempted murder and kidnapping, amongst others.
28-year-old Nathaniel Foutch-Pratt was reportedly arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA after police allegedly saw him driving a car with a woman, whose identity has not been made public as of February 29, in the passenger seat mouthing “help me”.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) arrested Foutch-Pratt on Tuesday (February 20) and he was consequently charged with seven counts, including first-degree kidnapping and attempted murder, per court records.
In an arrest report, LVMPD wrote that two officers were conducting a traffic stop at about 9:10 p.m. local time near Washington Avenue and Pecos Road when an SUV drove by, KSNV NBC Las Vegas reported.
"I observed a white female adult in the passenger seat stick her head out the window," an officer wrote in the report. "She mouthed the words 'HELP ME' as the vehicle was driving away from Officers."
A woman mouthing "help me" from a car led to the arrest of her alleged kidnapper
Image credits: PhotoSpirit - stock.adobe.com
According to the report, the officers left the initial traffic stop and activated lights and sirens to stop the SUV.
The driver, who was later identified as Foutch-Pratt, reportedly ignored the police and continued at a high rate of speed, leading the officers to initiate a vehicle chase.
Foutch-Pratt drove against traffic, ultimately crashing his SUV into another car before coming to a stop, as per the report.
The alleged criminal reportedly ignored officers' commands to leave the SUV and was seen grabbing what appeared to be a car strap which he used to unsuccessfully try to strangle the woman.
"The male can be heard on body camera yelling 'She has to die tonight,'" the report stated.
Officers proceeded to remove Foutch-Pratt from the car and went on to take him into custody, though he continued to resist and fought officers, KSNV reported.
The man was identified as 28-year-old Nathaniel Foutch-Pratt and was the victim's boyfriend
Image credits: FOX 5 Vegas
Upon the arrest, police reportedly learned that Foutch-Pratt and the woman were involved in an earlier domestic incident at The STRAT, a hotel and casino formerly known as the Stratosphere located on the Las Vegas Strip.
From that earlier incident, police also discovered that the two were a couple and were on a road trip from Illinois to California. Security stopped them because Foutch-Pratt appeared to be having a "paranoia episode", KSNV reported.
The victimized woman reportedly told police they were driving around when Foutch-Pratt "told her she needed to die".
According to the police report, Foutch-Pratt took her phone from her and refused to stop, so she tried to get other drivers to help her.
Foutch-Pratt is currently in custody in Clark County jail, being held on $50,000 bond, jail records indicate, as per People.
The disturber is also reportedly charged with coercion constituting domestic violence with threat or use of physical force, domestic battery by strangulation, felony battery by a prisoner, misdemeanor domestic battery, driver disobeying a peace officer, and several other misdemeanors.
It is not immediately clear if Foutch-Pratt has entered a plea but is due in court on March 12. He is being represented by a public defender, People reported.
Foutch-Pratt and the woman were involved in a prior domestic incident on the Las Vegas Strip
Image credits: FOX 5 Vegas
Female victims mouthing for help is, unfortunately, an occurrence that has happened more than once.
In January, a separate woman was also able to communicate with police by mouthing "help me" amid an hours-long alleged hostage situation in Atlanta, USA.
Authorities were reportedly dispatched to an apartment on Piedmont Avenue in Northeast Atlanta for a domestic dispute call and were informed a woman and her child were being "held against their will," the Atlanta Police Department said in a press release.
The suspect, 34-year-old Andre Ross, who police said was believed to be the child's father, had multiple felony warrants for armed robbery, weapons charges, obstruction, and probation violations, according to police, as per ABC News.
Upon arrival at the scene, police reportedly said the woman "appeared to be uncooperative, based on her statements, but mouthed 'help me' to officers."
A subtle message prompted officers to set up a perimeter around the location before SWAT and hostage negotiators were called to the scene, police said. Ross eventually surrendered and the woman was saved.
In the same month but on another continent, 21-year-old sex offender Rory McLaren was jailed after his 19-year-old victim mouthed “help” to a CCTV camera when she thought he was about to rape her.
McLaren ended up pleading guilty to assault and intent to rape after his threatening meeting with his victim at Roc Nightclub in the Scottish town of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, UK, Metro reported.
"That's a true miracle," a reader commented
