The alleged kidnapping of a woman by her 28-year-old ex-husband triggered a massive manhunt over the weekend that included closing streets in Des Allemands and calling in a helicopter for aerial support.
Investigators say that Eric Gros became enraged on Feb. 27 when his ex-wife showed up at his home, located in the 100 block of Dixie Drive in Des Allemands, to collect her belongings. Gros allegedly threw the woman to the ground and began to pull her into the house. When a neighbor tried to intervene, Gros pointed a gun at him, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said.
After bringing his ex-wife into the home, Gros brought her back out again and used a gun to force her into his Dodge pickup truck. Gros then fled the area at about 6:45 p.m.
“The neighbor called us and told us what was happening and we responded pretty heavily in the area,” LaGrange said. “We knew that the suspect was armed, so we closed and cleared some streets in the area to make sure no one was harmed.”
Several hours after Gros left his home, authorities found his truck near a wooded area in the Des Allemenads neighborhood. Neither Gros nor his ex-wife were anywhere near the vehicle, but investigators did find one of the woman’s shoes, LaGrange said.
Authorities canvassed the area all night and even called in the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for aerial support.
“(Gros) knew we were closing in on him,” LaGrange said. “We believe he was constantly on the run and on the move from Saturday night into Sunday morning trying to evade capture.”
Sunday morning, authorities were contacted by the ex-wife, who had become separated from Gros. LaGrange said investigators are still trying to find out if the woman escaped or was let go.
“She was very distraught,” LaGrange said. “He physically abused her during the ordeal.”
The woman was treated at St. Charles Parish Hospital and released.
Gros was arrested later Sunday morning after he was found hiding out on Bayou Road. He has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault.
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