Man suspected of kidnapping estranged wife arrested

A man was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Friday in connection with a Thursday night incident during which his estranged wife jumped out of his moving car, according to the La Center Police Department.

Richard J. Godsy, 47, was taken into custody by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office early Friday with assistance from the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Godsy had been released from prison within the last year after serving time for unlawful imprisonment and tampering with a witness, both domestic violence-related convictions, and violating a felony domestic violence court order, according to La Center Police Chief Marc Denney. He said the estranged wife was the victim of those charges.

Denney said the latest incident began Thursday night when Godsy and the woman met in the driveway of her home so he could give her the title to a car and she could give him a cellphone. When she was in the car, Godsy allegedly locked the doors and drove off with her inside.

The woman begged to be let out of the car, and told police later that Godsy said, “one of us is going to the grave, and the other is going to prison.” She eventually managed to unlock the car door and jump out with the car driving roughly 25 mph. She had visible injuries to her knees, hip and elbow, according to Denney.

The woman then ran to a car that was driving behind them and asked the driver for help. The driver was hesitant at first, but let her in the car when he saw Godsy walking toward the car, Denney said.

Back home, his estranged wife barricaded herself in the house with her children and called police.

“She made it back home in a safe environment,” Denney said.