Inset: Metris Bell (St. Louis County Sheriff's Office). Background: The 100 block of East 3rd Street in Duluth, Minn., where Metris Bell allegedly dumped a woman he hit with his car in an alley (Google Maps).
A Minnesota man allegedly struck a woman with his car and then snatched her body up off the street in broad daylight before dumping her in an alleyway — despite telling witnesses that he was "taking her to the emergency room," police say.
Metris Javon Bell, 31, was driving in Duluth when he allegedly struck the woman on Friday and moved her to an alley behind the 100 block of East 3rd Street, according to local Fox affiliate KQDS.
Charging documents obtained by the TV station describe how Bell hit the woman just before 11 a.m. and then dragged her body into his car while an onlooker watched, according to Duluth Police.
Bell allegedly told the witness he was taking the victim to a local hospital as he carried her from the street to his vehicle. Police say he was caught on surveillance cameras driving down an alleyway near the Damiano Center, a social services center, right before striking the woman, KQDS reports.
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Bell was allegedly caught on video driving around parts of Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood before choosing an alley near East 3rd Street. Cops say he was not on camera when the woman was dumped.
Someone found the victim and called police to the scene. She told officers that she remembered being hit by a car but did not know how she ended up in the alley. She vaguely recalled being moved to the alley but could not identify who transported her.
The woman was transported to a hospital and treated for multiple injuries.
Police say they tracked Bell down using the surveillance footage that captured him driving. He was taken into custody and charged with "kidnapping – victim not released in a safe place" and "criminal vehicular operation – substantial bodily harm – driver who causes collision leaves scene," according to online arrest records.
Bell was being held Thursday without bond. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 9, according to KQDS. He has several arrests on his record, including prior drug charges.
