BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring says it was reported at about 4:20 Sunday morning. He says 22-year-old Jasmine Benning of Sioux Falls was sitting in a vehicle with two friends when a Blue Jeep pulled up behind them.
A male suspect identified as 23-year-old Alexander Felipe Andrade of Sioux Falls exited the Jeep with a machete and approached the victim’s vehicle, striking it with the weapon. He reached in and forcefully removed Benning. Andrade forced her into the vehicle he was driving and left the scene.
SDSU Police located the suspect vehicle on the Highway 14 bypass near Brookings and pursued it for several miles on Interstate 29, then onto highway 324 before losing contact.
Sioux Falls Police later located the vehicle in that city and began a pursuit. That chase was ended for safety reasons. The suspect vehicle was located minutes later after it had run out of gas. Benning was able to get away and call the police. Andrade fled on foot and is still at large.
Sebring says the two had been in a previous relationship.
Andrade is being charged with first-degree kidnapping, intentional damage to property, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of aggravated domestic assault.
A 29-year-old Brookings woman was allegedly in the suspect vehicle with Andrade at the time of the kidnapping. She was located, interviewed, and released by Police.
Charges are pending.
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department or Crime Stoppers at 692-STOP.
(Perry Miller, KJJQ, contributed this report.)
