POINT PLEASANT — A couple from Mason County has been arrested and charged in an alleged kidnapping which began in Point Pleasant and ended at the couple’s home on Oshel Road - a home which was reportedly burglarized Tuesday.

William R. McDermitt, 39 and Elizabeth C. McDermitt, 40, both of Point Pleasant, were arrested on Wednesday after a joint investigation by the Point Pleasant Police Department (PPPD) and Mason County Sheriff’s Department. William has been charged with kidnapping by the PPPD and malicious wounding by the Mason County Sheriff’s Department. Elizabeth has been charged with aiding and abetting a kidnapping by the PPPD. More charges will likely follow.

According to the criminal complaint, after the burglary of their residence on Tuesday, the McDermitts were driving through Point Pleasant on Wednesday with Elizabeth in the driver’ seat and William in the passenger seat. William is said to have told Elizabeth to follow the vehicle of Dave F. Greene, 20, Point Pleasant. When Greene came to a stop at the traffic light on Sixth St., William allegedly got out of his vehicle and went up to Greene, assaulting him. After the assault, the couple allegedly continued to follow Greene until he stopped, apparently in the Harmon Park area.

At this time, William is accused of removing Greene from his vehicle, placing zip ties around his wrists and putting him in the McDermitt’s vehicle without Greene’s consent. In the mean time, officers with the PPPD were called to Sixth St. and then Harmon Park to find Greene’s vehicle at the park but found it unattended. At this time the PPPD alerted the Mason County Sheriff’s Department of the situation and of possible crimes being committed against Greene in their jurisdiction outside the city limits.

The McDermitts allegedly transported Greene back to their home on Oshel Rd. where the complaint states Greene says William accused him of of breaking into the home, threatened him with a gun, struck him on the head with the gun and forced him to get on an ATV. William is then accused of taking Greene to a field behind the home, physically assaulting Greene and cutting hair from his head with a knife. William then left Greene in the field. The complaint says Greene went to a neighbor’s home and was taken to a local hospital where his injuries included possible internal injuries, a broken leg and lacerations.

With the assistance of Sgt. Billy Gritt of the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, Cpt. Joe Veith of the PPPD arrested the McDermitts without incident. The couple was then transported to the Western Regional Jail on Wednesday night where they remained as of press time on Thursday evening.