Pocono News Section

Police Catch Alleged Kidnapper After 5 Months

Police Catch Alleged Kidnapper After 5 Months - Friday, April 11, 2008 at 3:14PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Friday, Apr 11, 2008 @03:14pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- The running days are over for a Luzerne County man who jumped bail 5 months ago after kidnapping charges against him. 48-year-old Mark Brandon of Sweet Valley was back in court Friday and now faces fleeing police charges as well as attempted kidnapping.

He was originally arrested last September for allegedly trying to kidnap a woman at a car wash in Sweet Valley. Surveillance video caught him on camera. He headed west and was hiding out with his sister in Colorado.

The sheriff says Brandon slipped up when he used his cell phone. "Between our division and the help of U. S. Marshal's, State Police also Colorado Sheriff's Department we worked in conjunction using cell phone records and I believe there was a rental car. We tracked him down and he’s back in custody," explained Luzerne County Sheriff Michael Savokinas.

And unlike shows like Law & Order or C. S.I., tracking down fugitives doesn't happen in 60 minutes. "It takes a lot of man hours, it takes a lot of resources, a lot of taxpayers money and at the end of the day, the bottom line, if you're going to be a fugitive we're going to come looking for you track you down bring you to justice."