Man Arrested and Charged for Kidnapping His Own Son in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.

July 2, 2024 – In a shocking turn of events, a man was arrested Tuesday on multiple charges connected with the alleged kidnapping of his infant son. The incident took place early Tuesday morning and concluded after hours of negotiation with the suspect.

The Incident

Officers were initially called to attend a disturbance around 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday. According to the uniform citation, the police were alerted that 41-year-old Richard Brian had unlawfully taken his 1-year-old son from a home in Bowling Green. The infant, authorities confirmed, had been entrusted to the care of another person at the time of the incident.

The alarm was raised by a caller who reported that Brian had entered her home without permission, kidnapped the baby and then fled the scene in a vehicle. Responding officers launched an immediate search for Brian and the child, prompted not only by the criminality of his actions but also under suspicions that Brian may have been under the influence of methamphetamine.

The Apprehension

Late into the early hours, at around 4:00 a.m. police received another call concerning a white male accompanied by a baby attempting to steal a car. The perpetrator, later identified as Brian, fled the location before police arrived. However, authorities soon located him hiding in a van at 141 Center St.

A Stand-Off Ensues

According to the officers on the scene, upon their approach Brian became highly agitated and confrontational. With the child still in his arms, Brian brandished a knife and made threatening gestures towards his own son. Brian’s refusal to leave, as well as his oscillating aggression, resulted in a standoff that lasted nearly two hours.

Successful Negotiations

As the situation threatened to escalate, skilled negotiators arrived on the scene and successfully persuaded Brian to not only put the knife down but to also exit the vehicle and hand over the child. Officers were pleased to report that the child was safely taken into police custody unharmed. Brian was then immediately arrested.

Aftermath and Charges

Brian was first taken to The Medical Center at Bowling Green for a medical assessment then later, lodged in the Warren County Detention Center. The charges against him are serious and many. These include kidnapping of a minor, first-degree wanton endangerment, third-degree terroristic threatening, third-degree criminal mischief, public intoxication – controlled substance (excludes alcohol) and resisting arrest.

The incident has left the community shocked, as such an event is rare in the peaceful city of Bowling Green.