FARGO, N.D. – A woman in Fargo, North Dakota, has been rescued after allegedly being held hostage for three days, thanks to a text message she sent to her boss while in captivity. Anthony Peterson, 39, has been arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and terrorizing with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident.
According to the Fargo Police Department, the woman reached out to her employer on April 8, informing them that she had been kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend and would not be able to come to work. The concerned employer promptly alerted the authorities, who swiftly dispatched officers to the scene.
Upon arriving at the residence, officers were able to safely rescue the woman after she opened the door. She disclosed to the police that Peterson had allegedly held her hostage at gunpoint in her own home, preventing her from leaving since Friday.
During their interview with the woman, the police discovered Peterson, who had fallen asleep on a couch. They also found him in possession of a stolen handgun. It was determined that Peterson is prohibited from having a firearm.
Online court records revealed that Peterson, a Lakeville, Minnesota resident, has multiple convictions, including violating a protection order, stalking, and domestic assault. Although he was previously charged with assault in Fargo in 2011, the case was eventually dismissed in 2019 after pleading not guilty.
As a result of last week’s arrest, Peterson is now also facing charges for stolen property and felonious restraint, according to the Fargo police. However, court and jail records do not show any official charges filed for these offenses.