A Shoreview man dragged a 15-year-old girl into his car against her will Saturday, locked her inside and drove off in an attempt to force her into marrying him in accordance with traditional Hmong marriage customs, according to charges filed Tuesday.
"You will never see your parents again!" Kong Meng Xiong, 21, allegedly told the girl as he drove to his home in Shoreview.
Xiong was charged in Ramsey County District Court with kidnapping, third-degree criminal sexual conduct and false imprisonment.
"This is a very disturbing case involving the victimization of a 15-year-old girl that cannot be tolerated in our community," Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a written statement. "Women and girls are not property."
According to the complaint: The girl's family reported her kidnapping to St. Paul police Sunday. Police spoke to the girl, who said that Xiong arrived at her home about 8 p.m. Saturday. The two argued, and he threw her iPad against a wall and dragged her into his car, ripping her sweatpants in the process.
The girl, who identified Xiong as her "boyfriend," told police that she escaped but was caught a second time and dragged back to the car. She was then driven to Xiong's home.
Shortly after 12 a.m. Sunday, the girl's parents returned home from work and were informed of the kidnapping by their son. The girl's parents called and argued with Xiong's parents over the phone.
Xiong's parents wanted the two to marry in the Hmong tradition, but the girl's parents did not, the charges said.
