Man charged after kidnapping, assaulting woman and leading police on a chase in Maryland Heights

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A man has been charged after police say he kidnapped a woman he used to date and then led police on a pursuit in a U-Haul.

According to a release, Dejai Caffey, 33, has been charged with kidnapping, assault, and aggravated fleeing a stop or detention.

The charges stem from an incident that happened on June 7.

Police were called to a Rocket West gas station for a report of an assault in a U-Haul truck.

When they arrived, police say they saw a U-Haul heading east on Dorsett. They tried to stop the U-Haul, but it fled.

At one point, the U-Haul struck a police car while making a U-turn. It ran a red light and almost caused another vehicle crash while going at speeds of 70 mph on a 35 mph road. The pursuit ended when the U-Haul lost two tires and left the roadway.

Police say they then removed Caffey and the victim from the overturned U-Haul.

The victim told officers she and Caffey used to date. And on that day, they were together in the U-Haul.

She said that around 1 a.m., Caffey became aggressive and began screaming at her and smacking her. She also said she would try to run every time they stopped somewhere, but he would grab her and keep the doors closed.

When they got to the gas station, he began hitting her head against a window.

When he drove over to a nearby Circle K, she escaped the truck, and he began to drive away. That is when police spotted the truck and the chase began.

Police say the victim had scrapes on her knee, bruises on her arms, and both hands were sore.