Bangor Police Say an Abduction at Target Was Not What it Appeared

The Bangor Police Department is reassuring the public that a recent kidnapping incident at Target was not a case of human trafficking.

What Happened in the Parking Lot?

Several bystanders called 911 last week when they saw a man force a woman into a U-Haul van and speed away. Some of the witnesses even followed the vehicle, for a time, to let police know where it was going. Officers were able to catch up to the suspect on I-395 and take the man into custody. Colby Cooper is charged with kidnapping, as well as some domestic violence-related charges. That's our first clue that this was not what it appeared. The woman received minor injuries in the incident.

Get our free mobile app

How Has the Public Reacted to This Story?

In a post on the department's Facebook page, Bangor Police said they began receiving calls from concerned residents in the days following this case. Many feared that the kidnapping was a sign of widespread trouble. Some worried that a group of abductors was grabbing women off the streets of Bangor, as part of a human trafficking ring. It's a natural thought. I mean, the guy did grab the woman at around 10:00 at night and he was driving a rented van. I can understand why people's minds went to dark places.

But Bangor PD says that's not what it was at all. Remember that domestic violence charge? That's a good indication that these two people knew each other. In fact, police say they had arrived at the store together and knew each other very well. But, sometime during the course of their trip through Target, something happened to make them a little less friendly with each other. As for the U-Haul? Officials say it's not unusual for people to rent the vans for everyday use. Maybe they were picking up a big TV or something else large enough that they needed the extra space to transport it.

Did Witnesses to the Incident Do the Right Thing?

With all this said, police say it's important not to let your guard down. Be aware of what's going on around you and if you see something, say something. The witnesses to this incident at Bangor's Target did exactly what they should have done when they called the police.