Princeton Man Charged with Kidnapping After Refusing to Let Woman Out of Car

Benjamin Li
Benjamin Li

A 22-year-old Princeton resident has been charged with kidnapping, criminal restraint and receiving stolen property after allegedly refusing to let a woman out of his car for three hours Monday night and threatening to kill her.

At 11:16 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28,  a Princeton Police Officer was parked on Nassau Street near Witherspoon Street when the officer observed a 2001 Mercedes Benz traveling east on Nassau Street and heard a female passenger screaming for help.

The officer pulled over the Mercedes Benz on Nassau Street near South Tulane Street and the female victim, a 20-year old Plainsboro resident, exited the Mercedes Benz from the passenger side. The victim said the driver, Benjamin Li, refused to let her out of the vehicle for about three hours while he drove through several towns. The victim said Li threatened to kill her and he punched her in the upper arm. No injuries were reported. Li also allegedly stole the victim’s cellular phone during the incident.

Bail was set at $225,000.00 with no 10-percent option. Li was taken the Mercer County Correctional Center. Police said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be forthcoming.

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.