An Isanti man has been charged with allegedly kidnapping a woman at gunpoint from a dental clinic in Roseville, Minnesota, holding her captive for about eight hours and sexually assaulting her before abandoning her in St Paul.
Pao Yang, 41, faces two counts of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, aggravated robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. He was arrested on Friday, September 25, and is being held at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Centre.
The alleged attack happened at about 5pm on Wednesday, September 23, near the junction of County Road C and East Snelling Service Drive. Police said the woman was leaving the business when she was confronted by a masked man wearing gloves and carrying a handgun.
According to the criminal complaint, the man ordered her to keep her head down and led her towards a wooded area. He allegedly tied her hands behind her back with cable ties, covered her eyes and mouth with tape, concealed her beneath branches and threatened to kill her if she screamed.
The woman told investigators that her abductor claimed another person would arrive to collect her within 15 or 20 minutes. The complaint alleges that he returned himself, moved her to another location and later sexually assaulted her.
She was then allegedly taken to a third location, where she was made to shower and change into a new dress. Investigators say the clothing was intended to conceal evidence of the alleged assault.
The woman also told police that the man claimed to have recorded the assault and threatened to have it posted online. He allegedly said he liked killing women and claimed to have killed women in Morocco, although those remarks have not been independently substantiated.
She was eventually released near Wheelock Parkway, close to the Phalen Park golf course clubhouse in east St Paul. She walked to a nearby petrol station, where she received help and police were called.
Police trace dress bought at Target
Investigators identified Yang after reviewing surveillance footage and tracing the dress given to the woman to a Target store in Blaine. Video showed a man buying a matching garment on the night of the alleged kidnapping.
Staff at the dental clinic recognised the man in the footage as “Pao”, an office cleaner who worked at the business. Police also said the clinic’s camera had been tilted upwards and its solar-panel cable cut before the attack.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed an Acura sports utility vehicle at the clinic for several hours before the camera was disturbed. Police said phone data placed Yang near the dental clinic, the area where the woman’s vehicle was recovered and the Blaine Target store.
Officers searched Yang’s home and reportedly found cable ties, clothing and shoes resembling those worn by the alleged attacker, gloves and a handgun. Police also said they recovered other firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle.
Yang denied the allegations when questioned and said he had been at home that evening. He admitted buying a dress at Target, but said it was for his daughter and was a different colour from the one described by investigators. He later declined to answer further questions and asked for a lawyer.
Roseville police said the investigation involved the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. Chief Erika Scheider said detectives had reviewed hundreds of hours of surveillance footage.
Yang made his first court appearance on Monday, September 28, when prosecutors sought bail of $2.5 million. The allegations have not been tested in court.
