A 33-year-old Vancouver man allegedly involved in a police chase Friday night appeared Monday morning in Clark County Superior Court on allegations that he kidnapped a woman and assaulted her over several days.
Anthony A. Jennings Jr. is accused of second-degree domestic violence kidnapping, fourth-degree domestic violence assault and malicious mischief. Deputy Prosecutor Luka Vitasovic told Judge Robert Lewis that Jennings may be facing a third-strike offense.
“Third strike? What does that mean, like life?” Jennings asked from a restraint chair seated in front of the judge.
It does. Under the state’s three-strikes law, offenders convicted three times of certain violent and sexual felonies receive mandatory life sentences.
Jennings was arrested late Friday night after allegedly hitting a medical response vehicle with a car, speeding off and then crashing near Harmony Elementary School.
Police chased Jennings before he crashed his vehicle on Northeast 172nd Avenue between Northeast 25th and 29th streets, Vancouver police Sgt. Rod Trumpf said.
Jennings allegedly ran from the car but was found by police. Trumpf said there was a struggle between Jennings and an officer, resulting in both being injured. He did not say the extent of their injuries, but both were medically treated and released.
Bruises and scrapes were visible on Jennings’ face during his court appearance. He was scheduled to appear later Monday in Clark County District Court on allegations tied to the police chase.
Vitasovic said the victim in the kidnapping case came home Dec. 19, and Jennings was unexpectedly there. She had filed a restraining order against him, but it hadn’t yet been served. Jennings is a former boyfriend of the victim’s, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Jennings allegedly took the woman to his RV parked in the backyard of a residence in the 500 block of Northeast 112th Avenue, where he forcefully kept her until Dec. 21, when she was able to escape, Vitasovic said.
While the woman was held captive, Jennings punched her in the face multiple times, Vitasovic said. He also allegedly damaged and disabled her vehicle.
Jennings threatened “to kill her and anyone she contacted for help,” the affidavit says.
“This is all made up,” Jennings said to his court-appointed attorney.
Lewis set Jennings’ bail at $500,000 and scheduled an arraignment hearing for Friday.
