Local News
Arrest made in kidnapping case
CULLMAN — A recent request from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office for assistance in tracking down an alleged stalker helped Cullman Sheriff’s investigators make an arrest in an April kidnapping case.
Cullman County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Christopher Glynn Whiting, 28, of Logan Friday for kidnapping in the first degree, attempted rape in the first degree and forgery in the second degree. He has charges pending in Lawrence County for felony stalking and impersonating a public servant.
Whiting is incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.
“He was interviewed at our office. ... Our victim in the April case identified him in a lineup and the vehicle he used,” said Cullman County Sheriff Tyler Roden. “He (Whiting) gave some information that corroborates the victims’ statements.”
A search of Whiting’s vehicle revealed a pair of handcuffs, wire ties, a BB pistol, stun gun, a gag and several fake identification credentials, including an FBI ID badge.
Roden said his investigators first learned about Whiting after investigators from Lawrence County named him as a suspect in a stalking case.
According to a press release, a man fitting Whiting’s description entered the Lawrence County residence of an 18-year-old female on July 14 by posing as an Alabama Department of Public Health employee who needed to collect water samples.
“They had received several reports in Lawrence County area of someone posing to be a public official wanting to get water samples,” Roden said.
The victim stated Whiting later convinced her he could help her get a job with the state.
“He offered to give her a ride to an office where she could fill out an application,” Roden said. “Instead, he carried her to his home in Logan.”
After realizing what was going on, the victim stated she convinced the suspect to carry her back to her residence. The incident was reported to both Lawrence and Cullman County law enforcement, but at the time, Whiting’s identity was unknown.
The victim moved to another residence shortly after the incident occurred. However, on Sept. 24, Whiting showed up at her new residence and attempted to make contact.
“They (Lawrence County deputies) were able to identify Whiting because the victim remembered where he lived,” Roden said. “They contacted us to help locate the individual.”
Roden said that while his deputies were following up in the investigation, they realized the Lawrence County case had many similarities to a case they worked in April.
“A woman reported that one morning she was out exercising, a man pulled up to her and asked if she wanted a ride,” Roden said. “As they traveled down the road, he detoured to a secluded area. At this point, he handcuffed her behind her back.”
Roden said the victim managed to slip one of her hands out of the handcuffs and ran to the nearby residence of a relative.
Roden said Whiting’s arrest does not mark the end of the case.
“We’re not closing the door on the possibility he is involved in any other cases,” Roden said. “And there will possibly be more charges brought against him in Lawrence County.”
‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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