Man suspected of abducting child, assaulting mother in custody; child safe

Updated Dec. 27, 11:45 a.m.

Chisago County authorities say a man who allegedly assaulted a woman and then drove off with her 6-month-old child is now in custody.

Sheriff’s officials said the mother was assaulted Thursday in a vehicle on Interstate 35 and again in a gas station bathroom in Wyoming, Minn.

The department identified Ben Tietz, 37, as the suspect and said he took off with the child in the woman’s car and had “large knives” in his possession. The child was later found safe.

The sheriff’s office on Friday morning reported Tietz was in custody. Authorities did not say if there was any prior connection between the unidentified mother and Tietz.

Authorities on Thursday initially called for an Amber Alert following the alleged abduction but later pulled back on that, saying the incident didn’t meet the criteria for an Amber Alert.

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