Man Arrested for Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend in Branford

Press Release from Branford Police Department

Last night at 8:53 pm the Branford Police received a complaint from a woman saying that her niece had been abducted.

She told police that her niece, who is 31 and resides in Branford, sent her text messages that her ex-boyfriend, David Butler, 41 of 19 Hemingway Place, New Haven, had assaulted her and was holding her against her will in her car. The victim also indicated that she was currently at an unknown gas station and she told the attendant to call the police.

The Branford Police immediately sent out a teletype, alerting area towns of the license plate and make and model of the victim’s car. Branford Police officers checked all the gas station in the area but the car was not located.

Approximately one hour later, officers from the Yale University Police Department located the victim and her car in a parking lot on Crown Street in New Haven. Butler was taken into custody by Yale police officers without incident. The victim was located in her car with minor injuries.

The Branford Police responded to New Haven where they took custody of Butler and transported him back to the Branford Police station for booking.

The victim gave a statement about her ordeal detailing that she arrived home from work at 6:30 p.m. and after parking her car she was walking to her house when Butler emerged from the porch and began yelling at her.

Butler then took her car keys, grabbed her by the throat and forced her into the car and began driving at a high rate of speed. Butler drove from Branford to West Haven then to East Haven and eventually ended up in a Crown Street garage in New Haven.

At one point during the ordeal, Butler elbowed the victim in the face and the victim reported that Butler was driving in excess of 90 miles per hour. Butler, who is 39 years of age, resides at 19 Hemingway Place in New Haven.

He was charged with second-degreen kidnapping, second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, and unlawful restraint . He is currently being held on $25,000 bond and will be arraigned in New Haven court this morning.