15-year-old held on kidnapping charge

CRYSTAL — State police said Wednesday night they were holding a 15-year-old male juvenile from Crystal without bail at the Aroostook County jail in Houlton on a charge of kidnapping a 14-year-old Crystal girl.

Police said they arrested the youth early Wednesday evening in a gravel pit near Route 159 in Crystal. The youth was scheduled to appear Thursday in juvenile court in Houlton, according to the Troop F Commander at Houlton, Lt. Malcolm Dow.

Dow said the girl allegedly was abducted at knife point from her residence off Route 159 about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and held overnight against her will. Dow said he was told the girl returned home Wednesday morning.

The officer said the girl’s condition was being investigated and that she had not been admitted to a hospital.

Dow declined to comment on where the girl may have been held and possible witnesses and motives in the investigation. He said the case would be referred to the Juvenile Intake Bureau.

Conducting an investigation was state police Trooper John Cote, assisted by detectives Marvin Hayes and John Dyer of the state police Criminal Investigation Division.