Reidsville man who refused to let woman out of vehicle during date faces kidnapping, false imprisonment charges, Rockingham County deputies say

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A Reidsville man who refused to let a woman out of his vehicle is facing kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, according to a Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Around 10:40 p.m. on Sunday, Rockingham County deputies were told to be on the lookout for a beige Infinity SUV with a female in the front passenger seat who was claiming to have been kidnapped.

The vehicle was reported on N.C. 14 when the alert was sent out.

A deputy in the area saw a vehicle that matched the description on N.C. 14 near New Heights Baptist Church. A female passenger was in the front seat, and the deputy tried to stop the vehicle.

The vehicle stopped at the Murphy’s USA Gas Station at the Reidsville Walmart, and the female passenger, appearing to be in distress, quickly got out, police say.

During the investigation, the deputy learned that the driver, Garrett Wade Wheeler, 44, of Reidsville, and the female victim had been on a date when Wheeler refused to take her home.

Wheeler continued to refuse to let her out of the vehicle despite her repeated pleas for him to let her out.

The victim called 911. Wheeler drove around 12 miles with the victim in the vehicle.

Wheeler was arrested for second-degree kidnapping and false imprisonment.

He is in the Rockingham County Detention Facility under no bond.

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