Armed kidnapping suspect captured in North Dakota

The man suspected of firing at Idaho State Police and then abducting a Rathdrum, Idaho, woman has been captured in Bismarck, N.D., authorities confirmed today. Mitchell Lee Walck, 57, had eluded authorities since late Friday night, but he was apprehended around 10 a.m. inside a mobile home park. A man called police after he reportedly found Walck hiding inside his truck at the Oasis Truck Stop. Walck threatened the Solen, N.D., man with a handgun, but fled on foot, a news from the Bismarck police said. Witnesses told police Walck ran to an area near the mobile park and officers found him hiding under a pine tree with a 9mm gun in his waistband at the time of arrest, said Bismarck Police spokesman Sgt. Mark Buschena. Nobody was hurt during the arrest, Buschena said, adding the stolen car of kidnapping victim Susan Smith, 62, was found in a nearby parking lot. As he fled from law enforcement, Walck is believed to have kidnapped Smith from her 700-acre ranch in North Idaho. Smith was released unharmed a day later in Glendive, Mont. Authorities say Walck took Smith’s car and drove her across several state lines and stopped at rest areas before dropping her off at a grocery store near the North Dakota state line. In Idaho, a warrant was obtained by authorities over the weekend charging Walck with first-degree kidnapping. Bail was fixed at $1 million. In addition to his Idaho warrant, Bismarck police officials said Walck was arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry to a motor vehicle, terrorizing and possession of a firearm. FBI investigators are currently interviewing Walck, and authorities said Walck will be transferred to the Burleigh County Detention Center when they’re done.