A 22-year-old Algoma Township man is in trouble with the law after he allegedly abducted, assaulted and imprisoned a young woman last week.

The Mobil gas station on the corner of 14 Mile and Edgerton was the scene of a possible abduction last week. Photo by J. Reed

Kent County Sheriff Deputies were called to the scene of the Mobil gas station at the corner of 14 Mile and Edgerton in Algoma Township just before 6 a.m. Friday morning, Sept. 4, on a possible abduction. According to police, a white male, about 21 years of age, was in the store, when a black female in her early to mid 20s entered the store with her hands bound behind her back. The clerk reported that she asked for help, and asked him to call 911. The suspect then picked her up and ran out of the store.

A report was then broadcast to media saying they were seen leaving in a smaller, dark-colored (possibly two-toned) SUV, and possibly heading west on 14 Mile Road. Surveillance photos of the two were also released, and the authorities received tip information that helped them identify the man just before 10 a.m. as Andrew Richard Cheslek, 22.

“Those tips led investigators to an Algoma Township residence where detectives were able to positively identify the suspect and victim involved in this incident,” said Lt. Kelley. They also located the victim, who told police that she had previously dated the suspect last year. She also told investigators Cheslek assaulted her several times against her will in the early morning hours of September 4.

Andrew Cheslek

A search warrant was executed at the suspect’s residence in Algoma Township, where detectives recovered several pieces of evidence related to the crimes. Cheslek was then lodged in the Kent County jail.

He was arraigned in Rockford’s 63rd District Court on Tuesday, September 8, on charges of kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree multiple variables, and felony firearms. Bond was set at $300,000 cash/surety, and a preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 16.