Rape is latest charge in jail’s revolving door
Staff writer
Arrested twice last week, a 27-year-old Marion man faces multiple charges of violence including rape and kidnaping.
A complaint filed March 21 in the first of three criminal cases against Paul A. Huddleston says that on Feb. 7 he drove recklessly, refused to stop for police and drove under the influence of alcohol or drugs, without a valid license, and with improper stop or turn lamps and defective stop or tag lamps.
At the time, police said, that Huddleston had led them on a five-block chase down Main St. to the 100 block of Lawrence St. after officer Aaron Slater attempted to stop Huddleston’s pickup in the 700 block of E. Main St. because of an altercation in the 300 block of Locust St.
A second case, filed March 25, alleges that on Feb. 19, Huddleston placed Marion police officer Dustin Woodford and acquaintances Kayla Barhorst and Shaylee Creevan in fear of immediate bodily harm with five Farberware kitchen knives and throwing knife. He also was accused of endangering a 14-year-old child.
“He was suicidal,” interim police chief Zach Hudlin said. “We got a call for a welfare check. When we got there, he escalated it.”
A third case, also filed March 25, alleges that on Feb. 24 Huddleston threatened violence against Woodford and deputies Josh Meliza and Austin Spencer and placed the three in reasonable anticipation of bodily harm.
“A friend from North Carolina saw a (social media) post about him wanting to hurt himself and called in to ask for a welfare check,” Hudlin said.
Huddleston wasn’t arrested the day of these incidents but was arrested March 26. He bonded out, posting a $15,000 bond after 12 hours in custody, but was back in jail Saturday on suspicion of new charges of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, kidnaping, and rape. The incidents happened over two consecutive days, before and after Huddleston’s arrest and release. Hudlin said.
A 26-year-old Marion woman reported Saturday that Huddleston had come to her home March 26 before he was arrested and battered, kidnapped, and raped her.
On Thursday, after he was released from jail, he returned and broke into her home, but that time she fought him off with a kick to his groin.
Charges for those incidents are pending. His bond was set Monday at $250,000.