News accounts give different descriptions of the charges filed against Dennis Darnell Lee, 35, on September 30. The Fox 59 report, citing court documents, lists a Level 2 felony kidnapping charge. The Star Press reports two counts of attempted kidnapping and describes other charges differently. The available accounts do not clarify the reason for the discrepancy.
In its account of the court documents, Fox 59 reported that the May 31 incident involved a woman’s vehicle, with her 5-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son inside. Lee allegedly got into the car as the woman was preparing to leave, pushed the girl in an attempt to get her into the vehicle, and grabbed the woman.
Muncie police had been sent at about 12:51 p.m. to a reported fight near N. Cherry Street and W. Washington Street, Fox 59 reported. According to the account, Lee ran toward a nearby parking lot after officers told people at the scene to stay there. Two women later stood in his way in separate incidents; both were charged with obstruction of justice.
Fox 59’s account of the court documents lists the charges as kidnapping, a Level 2 felony; robbery, a Level 3 felony; battery, a Level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; and unauthorized use, a Class B misdemeanor. The Star Press instead reports attempted robbery resulting in bodily injury, battery on a person under 14, resisting law enforcement, and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, in addition to the two attempted-kidnapping counts.
