DES MOINES, Wash. — Des Moines police said an alert officer is to thank for helping a woman who was badly beaten and had just escaped her apartment.
"This lady was confused she didn't know what to do. I mean she was in a public place and she couldn’t even put together enough thought to go into an open business to tell them she needed help or to make a phone call," said Sgt. Doug Jenkins, Des Moines police.
According to prosecutors, her boyfriend, Shawn Paul Johnsen, taped her wrists together, put a piece of duct tape over her mouth and then rolled her into a white bed sheet. Then he allegedly bound her by wrapping a black or brown extension cord around her feet, winding it up to her chest area.
“The victim she had no liberty , she couldn't leave” said Jenkins.
Jenkins said a patrolling officer spotted the woman sitting alone near a fence at a Mexican restaurant on Pacific Highway South and 260th Street.
"They look for the unusual and out of the ordinary and this lady was confused,” said Jenkins.
After the officer talked to the woman, she told him that she was beaten by Johnsen at their apartment.
Officers saw his white van in their assigned parking spot, and knocked on the door but no one responded.
After several more attempts officers deployed explosives to get the suspect to come out.
However, Johnsen told officers he could not hear them.
"He said he was wearing his headphones and despite all of the commotion outside he didn't hear officers calling him and all of that," said Jenkins.
Neighbors told us the explosions woke them up.
"The bang was so big I’m surprised the windows didn't shatter," said David Thompson, who lives above Johnsen.
He added, "You would hear that with ear plugs and headphones on."
Police say it's very fortunate that the woman was spotted by the patrolling officer.
"When you consider that our victim was tied up and bound and actually gagged with duct tape that's not a very common event," said Jenkins.
Johnsen is being held at the Kent Regional Justice Center on $250,000 bail for assault in the third degree, domestic violence, and unlawful imprisonment.
He'll be arraigned on Oct. 7.
Police said the victim was treated and released from the hospital. She suffered bruises on her face, and a broken nose.