A Lincoln man is behind bars after police say he assaulted and kidnapped his girlfriend and their daughter.
Lincoln Police say around 7:30 Friday night, officers were called to a local hospital for a reported kidnapping. Police say investigators contacted a 32 year old woman who reported that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend. The woman told officers that earlier that morning, 29 year old Joshua Salazar, had held her against her will at knife point for several hours at her home. Police say that during this time, the victim reported that Salazar assaulted her by punching her in the face, which broke her nose, and stabbed her with the knife several times.
The victim says she was sexually assaulted by Salazar, who threatened to kill the victim and her children. Investigators say Salazar then forced the woman and their 2 year old child into a car where they drove around Lincoln at knife point. Police say the victim told investigators that she feared for her and her child’s life.
Investigators say after several hours, the victim and her child were let go and she sought medical treatment at the hospital. LPD says officers observed injuries consistent with her account, which they say are serious but non-life threatening. Investigators say officers also processed the scene and found evidence consistent with the assault.
LPD says around 7:00 Saturday night, officers saw Salazar riding a bike near and 53rd and Knox Street and tried to contact Salazar, but they say he ran away as officers gave chase telling him to stop. Police say officers could see that Salazar was reaching in his waistband. They say he then stopped running, turned around brandishing a large knife and began to advance at officers with the knife pointed at them. LPD says Salazar told the officers he was going to kill them and started to run in their direction.
Police say the officers tried to retreat and communicate with Salazar to drop the knife. They say one of the officers was able to retreat enough to retrieve a less than lethal shotgun while the other investigator negotiated with Salazar to attempt a peaceful resolution. LPD says at one point, Salazar went into a backyard in the area, claimed to have a gun and pointed a laser at the officer. Investigators say officers continued to negotiate with Salazar as other officers arrived at their location.
According to police, Salazar then held the knife to his throat and was hit with several less than lethal impact rounds, causing him to fall to the ground. LPD says as officers approached Salazar, he was found to have the knife under him. Investigators say officers used a taser on Salazer in order to remove the knife and get him into custody.
Police say during a search of Salazar, two grams of methamphetamine in two separate packages were located. Salazar was treated at a local area hospital for minor injuries before being taken to the Lancaster County Jail.
Salazar was arrested for two counts of Kidnapping, 1st Degree Sexual Assault, 2nd Degree Domestic Assault, two counts of Attempted 2nd Degree Assault on an Officer, six counts of Use of a Deadly Weapon to Commit a Felony, Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Prohibited Person, Resist Arrest with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Salazar was also arrested on two local misdemeanor warrants.