Just before 2pm near Triangle Park on Montana Ave, a man in a white van with a black ski mask grabbed a teenage girl and forced her into the vehicle. If you see anything suspicious, please call 911. We will keep you updated as we get more information.

https://www.facebook.com/katlradio

It was a prank pulled by the kids. They pretended to kidnap someone. Investigation is on-going.

I hope they throw the book at these not so funny kids...that is awful to do that to anyone and horrifying to any of their family that wasn't told...

I think they should punish them as if they had kidnapped someone!

This is something I would have done as a prank as a teenager. This is also a really stupid idea as most teenage prank ideas are.
I'm not sure they should be prosectuted as a kidnapper but they should be informed how other people might view the situation and be informed that they may face a horrible outcome if a bystander saw that and "helped" out the person in distress.
I drove by there exactly at 2pm and there was a plain clothes officer there talking to 2 people across the fence in the park. His car trunk was open and I thought it was weird so I paid attention. I couldn't find anything really out of place so I drove on. If somebody was being dragged into a van, I'm not sure what I would have done.

I drove by there at 2 oclock also and saw a white van, a police officer and a woman talking to the officer. Does anyone know if the girl knew the guy in the van?

As I understand it, yes, she knew the guy.

It was a prank a bunch of teens called it in...its not real..its all over facebook

This is something I would have done as a prank as a teenager. This is also a really stupid idea as most teenage prank ideas are

I have to agree with boxedmc on this. I would have done the same when I was a teenager, thinking back, as I truly despise today's namby pamby society.

Did it in the 90s... times were better

A friend of mine and I were at Wibux Park when I herd it on the radio. We left IMMEDIATELLY! If it was a prank, IT WAS NOT FUNNY! Our children were little, at the least to say, NOT pleased to leave! I would like to consider Miles City as a community, not a hellacious place to live, much less take our kids on an outing to a park! Or be scared to have them disappear! I hope the "kids" involved pay DEARLY for this!

With all the stuff going on in the oilfields, which isn't too far from Miles City, it is kind of scary but come on guys, kids are gonna be kids and probably never thought much about it. They were probably just trying to scare the bejesus out of whoever they grabbed. Sounds like no one was hurt so what is the deal? Adults with kids probably would be scared to hear that someone was abducted but should be very relieved that it wasn't the real thing. I am sure the whole thing is gonna make a lot of kids think about it but I don't think they need to be hung or anything.

I heard that they did it as "joke" to get their names in the paper.

I can't say exactly why, but for some reason I interpreted this new, unconfirmed "prank" info as the "abductor" and "abductee" were both in on the prank. That it was done for show for observers to be pranked. Not sure why I read it that way?

I know this is going to sound bad but, for some reason, when I read the KATL report about a white van and black ski masked abductor it seemed a little odd - like it was almost Hollywood stereotypical? I don't know... just a strange sense I got.

Sadly, we have had several abduction attempts around here lately and even creepier - the descriptions were of a man AND a woman... not just some creepy individual but rather a collaborating pair. We're all vigilant here, too.

DRAMMA !!!!!

This same thing has been going on for years around the country at graduation time grads are pulling on each other. I'm not saying it's right, but kids will be kids. If any law was broken, maybe disturbing the peace would be appropiate.
The response from the community was exemplary though. We all need to keep our eyes and ears open.
What if this wasn't a joke????

or what if a bystander saw this and got off a couple of shots at the van to stop it and someone was seriously hurt...There are many scenerios that could lead to trajedy in this situation...

Howdy, that is my thought. If I had been carrying and watched this play out, no doubt I would have shot the driver if I were able to get a shot off. It would have been a justified use of force, but a very unfortunate one given that these morons were "playing a prank."

I can't believe it isn't on YouTube.
The actors should pay a slight consequence as a warning to anyone paying attention, above all parents need to discuss pranking with their kids. Often the pranks aren't thought all the way through, teens don't have the ability to do that. Because you never know how somebody might react, let alone over-react. If nothing else, Miles City had a good drill, surely will be studied and discussed, might help people respond appropriately if the real thing happened.

Unlike a big procreateing sissy with no regard for bystanders, I'd have engaged them in a high speed chase, used the PIT maneuver, and killed the abductor with my bare hands - like a man.

I just hope the little sh&*%#$heads pay for what they have done and the hell they put the whole town through! Or better yet, put the little pranksters in Pine Hills for a week or 2... They might think differently next time?

[This message has been edited by Melita (6/2/2012)]

I think firing at them would be an overreaction, if you meant to kill one of them...I meant firing at their tires or something and missing and accidently killing someone or wounding them badly...but to fire and deliberating meaning to kill their driver would be a huge overreaction IMO...In my day we pulled pranks too but compared to this, they were quite harmless, like hoisting the principals underwear up the flag pole, etc...I realize that I am many generations older than most of you but that is my take on this all...

If anyone witnesses someone taking my kid feel free to overreact and shoot them.

Unless something goes wrong and your kid takes the bullet or gets decapitated in the resulting crash. Now who's the hero?

Kidnapping is a forceable felony. Shooting the masked man is 100% justified under Montana Law, the way I read the following.

45-3-102. Use of force in defense of person. A person is justified in the use of force or threat to use force against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary for self-defense or the defense of another against the other person's imminent use of unlawful force. However, the person is justified in the use of force likely to cause death or serious bodily harm only if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily harm to the person or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.


(Any lawyers here to tell me otherwise?)

[This message has been edited by Former (6/2/2012)]

And if you shoot the victim?

I would bet that Zimmerman fellow wishes he hadn't pursued that kid which ended in death now that he is facing serious charges and the kid is dead...One can have the best of intentions and things can turn out badly...

These kids did it as a lark and didn't think it through. While stupid, it is hardly a hanging offense. On the other hand, as tense as people are after the Sherry Arnold case, it was a stunningly bad idea. Someone might have been trigger happy and it could have ended tragically. As it is, I hope their parents have them mowing lawns with nail clippers for the rest of the summer.

I think they were adults, not young kids. You know, old enough to know better.

If you shoot the victim? I guess you take that risk, and there would be consequences if that happened I'd assume, although a good marksman from close range could put one through the drivers window without much trouble. I'm sure that a lot of people in Miles City have concealed carry permits.

As for Zimmerman, the facts are very different. He chased a kid down who was "suspicious" and a "self defense" shooting resulted.

In this case, a masked man abducts a young woman... the shooting would clearly be justified.

My point is this: The consequences of this monumentally stupid stunt should be something that the jackass kid's parents should explain to him - that a bystander would have been well within his legal rights to have KILLED the little $hithead right there on the spot.


I'd still like to know whether the "victim" was in on the prank or not.

And Amorette, I don't think the person would even have to be "trigger happy," just someone who knows the law (which is very clear in this instance) deliberately and intentionally shooting the kid. Perhaps an off duty or retired police officer just happened to be driving by or walking by while lawfully carrying. Again, as I understand the law, this would have been an instance where lethal force in defense of another would have been justified - even given that it was a prank (the code provision refers to a "reasonable belief," not a factually accurate one).

Wuss

Eh?

Was an Amber Alert actually issued by law enforcement in this case?

@Former: Your idea of taking the law into your own hands by opening fire on a fleeing vehicle near a public park, an elementary school, and a busy intersection is as dangerously stupid as the prank itself. I hope that much is obvious to you now and that you'll strongly consider surrendering your CWP, if one has been issued to you.

Exalted Buckaroo wrote:

Was an Amber Alert actually issued by law enforcement in this case?

Exalted Buckaroo: Right or wrong, the "amber alert" was my choice of words. I have no knowledge of whether one was issued by law enforcement or not. I was simply taking seriously what KATL posted on their FB page. Given the situation, I thought calling peoples attention to this matter was important.

Thanks for clearing that up, Richard. I didn't see mention of one on the KATL page or in the metro dailies today, which prompted the question.

http://www.amberalert.gov

Yes the victim was in on it...they wanted it to be like the show pranked with ashton kutcher...they were all in on it and was a set up thing.....

Wonder if they warned the police beforehand to prevent any unnecessary reactions ie: taking time away from legitimate calls...

"(AT)Former: Your idea of taking the law into your own hands by opening fire on a fleeing vehicle near a public park, an elementary school, and a busy intersection is as dangerously stupid as the prank itself. I hope that much is obvious to you now and that you'll strongly consider surrendering your CWP, if one has been issued to you."

Eh, eat me.

If you have a problem with the law justifying such action, take it up with the legislature.

Did I say anything about guns blazing and throwing as much lead downrange as possible? No. I said that if I had a clear shot at a masked man abducting a young woman that I'd probably take it.

The last time I was in Miles City, I didn't see a hoard of kids running around triangle park, and school is not in session. Would I be firing shots toward a playground full of kids? No.

I hope that if my daughter were to be kidnapped, that there are like-minded people willing to take action as opposed to a bunch of touchy-feely pacifists who onlook and take really good notes. Pay attention to what she is wearing to help in identifying her body when they find her in the woods a few months later.

Instead of shooting and not knowing all the circumstances (I this case it would have been a terrible mistake), why not call the police and then follow the van. When the police get there, get the hell out of the way.
It would worry me that the authorities would autorize a permit a person who would be so trigger happy. Maybe the permit should be taken away.
There are enought wacko's out there as it is.
My two-bits.

Holy cow i understand that this is a serious thing but,,this topic has gotten way out of hand...people just calm down and listen to the news or speak to someone that can actually give u some answers and stop talking about shooting people...y does everything always have to come down to someone getting seriously hurt or killed....like the person above me y wouldn't u just fallow the vehicle and stay on the phone with the police till they meet up with u then leave and get out of their way..that would be the smart safe thing to do right....

I wonder why we even bother with trained law enforcement when we have superheroes like "Former" around.

What is the say that I am not or was not law enforcement?

Did you people NOT read the statute I posted?

It would CLEARLY be a legally justified use of force - not just for a cop - but for any citizen, concealed carry permit holder or not.

Instead of getting mad at ME for making a hypothetical statement grounded squarely on Montana law, get mad at the legislature for writing the law and having it on the books.

MY point was that this dumbass kid could have gotten himself killed as a result of this prank. That is the truth - like it or not - and the shooter would not be held criminally accountable.

"Instead of shooting and not knowing all the circumstances (I this case it would have been a terrible mistake), why not call the police and then follow the van. When the police get there, get the hell out of the way.
It would worry me that the authorities would autorize a permit a person who would be so trigger happy. Maybe the permit should be taken away.
There are enought wacko's out there as it is.
My two-bits."

In a dynamic situation such as this, how could you possibly know "ALL" of the circumstances?

I'm not as fast as I used to be, but even in my youth, I could not chase down a van on foot.


"Holy cow i understand that this is a serious thing but,,this topic has gotten way out of hand...people just calm down and listen to the news or speak to someone that can actually give u some answers and stop talking about shooting people...y does everything always have to come down to someone getting seriously hurt or killed....like the person above me y wouldn't u just fallow the vehicle and stay on the phone with the police till they meet up with u then leave and get out of their way..that would be the smart safe thing to do right...."

"Y?" Because it is a likely outcome of KIDNAPPING SOMEONE IN A PUBLIC PLACE, that is "y." The fact that "u" can't see that, or at least recognize that it is a potential outcome, means that "u" are a bit out of touch with reality and the gravity of what those punk kids were doing.

"I wonder why we even bother with trained law enforcement when we have superheroes like "Former" around."

I'd like to think that my training was adequate - but law enforcement are not generally given super powers, thus the superhero bit is a bit over the top. And don't worry, I'm not "around."




Anyway, you can all speak from your vast experiences about why it is not a logical conclusion that the kid could have very well gotten himself "dead" and how anyone who would attempt to save the phony "victim" (as authorized by Montana law) would be a villian. I was just throwing out there that in staging a kidnapping, you are opening yourself up to being shot by someone who mistook your "prank" for the legitimate abduction of a young lady - and that the parents should make their half-wit offspring aware of just how serious the outcome could have been.

For ur information for u to say this about me "(means that "u" are a bit out of touch with reality and the gravity of what those punk kids were doing.") is just wrong and rude of u ..i was just saying y wouldn't it just be easier to follow them in ur vehicle at a safe distance..because the right think to do would to follow and call 922 or pay attention to every detail..like licens plate numbers..ect....so dont think u know me one bit cause people shooting others or severely hurting them when they dont know the whole situation is y the world is the way it is.....and people like u dont help ur rude and crude i was just simply saying y does it always have to come down to physical violence..and not rational thinking

Why can't you use your "rational thinking" to piece together that I am simply pointing out that A PASSERBY WHO SAW THIS UNFOLD COULD HAVE LEGALLY SHOT THE KID.

Read the statute I quoted.

Look at the scenario.

I'm not saying that one thing is "easier" or that one is "better" - I am saying that it would be LEGAL to kill the kid for his "prank," and that the gravity of what happened should be clearly stated to these kids.

Its not me saying that the kid deserved to die - its me saying that Montana law allows it. Getting mad at me doesn't change the law on the books.

hotshot92 wrote:

For ur information for u to say this about me "(means that "u" are a bit out of touch with reality and the gravity of what those punk kids were doing.") is just wrong and rude of u ..i was just saying y wouldn't it just be easier to follow them in ur vehicle at a safe distance..because the right think to do would to follow and call 922 or pay attention to every detail..like licens plate numbers..ect....so dont think u know me one bit cause people shooting others or severely hurting them when they dont know the whole situation is y the world is the way it is.....and people like u dont help ur rude and crude i was just simply saying y does it always have to come down to physical violence..and not rational thinking

"because the right think to do would to follow and call 922 or pay attention to every detail"

Excuse me but I think your fly is open.

How rude just because i make a spelling error and i pressed 2 instead of 1 ur goin to make fun of me for it..u knew damn well what i ment...

Yeah, gees, call the spelling police.
It's 922 right?

This whole story reminds me of a guy in Williston that
wore a ski mask into a bank, it was cold outside, but "as a joke"
yelled "this is a robbery". Well he did a year for that joke.

hotshot92 wrote:

How rude just because i make a spelling error and i pressed 2 instead of 1 ur goin to make fun of me for it..u knew damn well what i ment...

IMO, your use of "phone-nics" is rude to those of us who like reading English. It is a little difficult for me to take you seriously. I found your comment about doing "the right think", dialing "922" and paying "attention to detail" to be juicy irony that was actually pretty amusing. You will get along better here if you develop a thicker skin and stop whining about everything being "rude".

Check out the stats on this website.
http://www.kidsfightingch.../stats.php
They are complied from all over the country. The time to stop a kidnapping is when you see it. Unfortunatley the stats say that the victim is most likely dead in 3 hrs. I hope that each person in our community would inefere w/ a kidnapping in progress to the best of their ability. For some that might be a phone call to police and others it may be a direct confrontation in the situation. I started this drift on this thread by saying I don't know what I would have done, but I know what I plan on doing if I see a situation where someone is in life threatening need of help. I plan to help, w/ as much force as is necessary, no more, no less.

[This message has been edited by boxdmc (6/4/2012)]

[This message has been edited by boxdmc (6/4/2012)]

This thread is better than any reality show ABC, NBC or CBS could come up with!

Richard i could care less about u or for that matter of fact what people say about me,if u like me then u like me if u don't then so be it and i didn't use my phone when i was typing that out...some people don't always spell things right and no one is perfect and we all make mistakes..oh but that's right your MR.PERFECT,Im sorry i forgot forgive me sir ,so for u to assume(make an ass of your self) u should maybe get all the details before u go running your mouth...

Eh, Bite me!!!!!

hotshot92 wrote:

Richard i could care less about u or for that matter of fact what people say about me,if u like me then u like me if u don't then so be it and i didn't use my phone when i was typing that out...some people don't always spell things right and no one is perfect and we all make mistakes..oh but that's right your MR.PERFECT,Im sorry i forgot forgive me sir ,so for u to assume(make an ass of your self) u should maybe get all the details before u go running your mouth...

Eh, Bite me!!!!!

Well, I would "bite you", but I don't like clown meat. It taste funny.

Okay what ever u say...Have a good day and may god bless u..

Now Children lets play nice or you'll have to go home.

i love how this whole thing got blown way outta proportion bahaha, if you want the facts talk to the people involved, i mean they even put it on face book about what really happened. A guy and his friend were pulling a prank on the guys girlfriend, and she had no clue until she was in the van and she even thought it was a funny. To the rest of the community it might not have been but when i was younger i can remember a couple of my friends duct taping themselves and popping out of a car truck on main street and running down main. To kids this kid of stuff can be hilarious and they don't see how they can be punished for such a simple insignificant prank.

bsales speaks the truth - kids are stupid and rarely think through the consequences of their actions.

Of course, that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be consequences.

bsales wrote:

if you want the facts talk to the people involved, i mean they even put it on face book about what really happened. A guy and his friend were pulling a prank on the guys girlfriend, and she had no clue until she was in the van and she even thought it was a funny. To the rest of the community it might not have been but when i was younger i can remember a couple of my friends duct taping themselves and popping out of a car truck on main street and running down main. To kids this kid of stuff can be hilarious and they don't see how they can be punished for such a simple insignificant prank.

This assumes that you know who was involved, which I do not. I simply started this thread based on information from people I trust implicitly posted on my FB page. I believe that if you're doing something where law enforcement has to roll on the situation it (post-911) isn't "insignificant".

I simply started this thread based on information from people I trust implicitly posted on my FB page.

...and there you have it.

Facebook is the source of all evil.

Blame Facebook, not these kids.

tis better to post whenever you see it posted, and perhaps save a childs life than to ignore it, guessing it is a prank, IMO...Plus this source was from a radio station...as he posted the link at the end of it...

[This message has been edited by howdy (6/5/2012)]

hotshot 92

Don't take it personal, they don't know any better and are rude to everyone.

Does anyone know who these pranksters are?

I didn't get to read all of the posts to this but I am a mother to small children and I feared for their safety when this happened as we were only a block or so away. Also not but a couple months prior to this I was jumped by two unknown males and beaten, thank god that I decided to defend myself and they took off. But this shows that it is nothing to joke about EVER adult or not it is a dangerous place to be out alone and jokes like that affect everyone in the town.

The kid that prank kidnapped that girl(most should know by now but if not)he is about 28-+ and he got arrested the next day or a few days later for hitting on/trying to pick up some underage girls...im glad those girls or who ever was with them were smart enough to call the cops....@ S im glad nothing seriously happened to you..

Thank you I am too

S, I am also glad you are OK as there are way too many females in our nation who have been assaulted and these creeps never caught...Keep telling your story to young women every chance you get and maybe you will save a life by making them think twice before taking an unnecessary chance...

Thats a great though...it would be nice to start a group or something like neighbor hood watches or a group that includes people that have experienced it and are lucky enough to be alive to tell their story

It used to be that the National Hotline for Rapes/assaults accepted volunteer workers to work out of their homes for a few hours per week to talk to these young people that had just been assaulted...I did it for a long while and it helped me immensely after being assaulted myself...Have no clue if that still exists but it is worthwhile to find out IMO...

Well im not positive i think there is still that hotline...i see a commercial for it everyone in a while....

Used to be that a central switchboard would call your number if you were a volunteer, and you could work like an hour or so a week...very worthwhile...and right out of your own home...

I actually have wanted to start something like this but not sure how

Google the "national rape/assault crisis hotline" and see if you can get a number and call them and ask what they offer in lines of starting up a group in this area...I am sure they will help you at least sign up as a volunteer...Good Luck...If I were younger and healthier I would sure help you...

Here is a good link at first glance to start with:

http://www.rainn.org/statistics

Thank you howdy. I will look into it. And I appreciate the thought of helping. I am in my early twenties and have alot I can share with alot of people I just need the opportunity to do it.

This isn't the abductor guy, is it?

http://milescitystar.com/...php#story3

That Brian Thompson no,this guy is like 28 give or take a year..

[This message has been edited by neonfreedom (7/16/2012)]

We had a guy at work here get popped for something like this, and I really don't understand the thought process here.

If this is really your thing, find yourself an 18 year old that looks like she's 14... and date her.

Creepy? Totally. Illegal? No.

tis creepy but at least it would be legal right?

I agree. In my opinion 17 and younger is a child and is not even to be thought about that way. If they are 18 it may be weird but at least you are both adults.