Trial set for man accused of kidnapping

A Grinnell man charged earlier this month with kidnapping and holding a woman against her will in a Newton motel room is scheduled for a jury trial Oct. 19.

Michael A. Darrow, 38, was charged Sept. 5 after police were called at about 1:30 a.m. to the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, 1405 W. 19th St. S.

The victim said Darrow held her against her will in the motel room and twice strangled her and physically restricted her from leaving when she attempted to escape. According to a police report, Darrow told the victim, “scream one more time, and I’ll kill you.”

Darrow also took the victim’s cell phone and the motel room phone, according to police. The victim was eventually able to leave the motel room and ran across Highway 14 to Casey’s to report the assault and kidnapping. Darrow fled the scene but was later taken into custody.

He faces charges for third-degree kidnapping, first-degree harassment, assault causing bodily injury and controlled substance violation.

Darrow is being held on a $125,000 bond at the Jasper County Jail.

Contact Abigail Pelzer at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or apelzer@newtondailynews.com