Staff Report

Lukeus Alexander Fitch-Morrow

COLUMBIA CITY — A Larwill man was recently arrested for allegedly pulling a teenager into his vehicle and driving under the influence.

Lukeus Alexander Fitch-Morrow, 21, 6830 W. 100N, Larwill, is charged with kidnapping, a level 5 felony; and domestic battery with a prior conviction and operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangerment, both level 6 felonies.

Around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, officers with the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office and Columbia City Police Department responded to a disturbance in Columbia City. A man said he saw Fitch-Morrow pull a teenager into a vehicle and drive away from a residence.

According to court documents, the man said a teenager walked over to Fitch-Morrow’s vehicle, with Fitch-Morrow grabbing the teenager by their arm and pulling them into the vehicle.

The man received a phone call from the teenager, who told police they were with Fitch-Morrow but did not know their location. They were later found in Larwill and interviewed by law enforcement.

While the man was providing law enforcement with a written statement, he noticed a vehicle belonging to Fitch-Morrow return to the area.

Officers pulled the vehicle over and identified the driver as Fitch-Morrow, who was exhibiting signs of intoxication.

The teenager said they were visiting the man who reported their kidnapping when Fitch-Morrow called their phone repeatedly. Fitch-Morrow went to the man’s residence because he was tracking the teenager’s location through a social media app.

While parked outside of the home, Fitch-Morrow kept calling the teenager and revving his vehicle’s engine. When the teenager told Fitch-Morrow to leave, he repeatedly asked the teenager to get in his vehicle.

The teenager said they repeatedly denied Fitch-Morrow’s request and that Fitch-Morrow forcibly pulled them into the vehicle.

The teenager said Fitch-Morrow drove erratically and at a high rate of speed.

Fitch-Morrow was previously convicted of domestic battery in September in Whitley County.

Fitch-Morrow was booked in the Whitley County Jail on Oct. 23.