William Elliott, ID'd as 'Good Samaritan' hit and run driver, may face kidnapping charge

William Elliott, ID'd as "Good Samaritan" hit and run driver, may face kidnapping charge

By Michael Roberts Fri., Dec. 14 2012 at 7:01 AM

Video, map below.

Original post, 2:59 p.m. December 7: Right now, Aurora police officers are looking for a hit-and-run driver -- albeit one who delayed the "run" part of the equation in a highly unusual way.

The man allegedly smacked into a fourteen-year-old girl in Aurora, then picked her up and took her to what he apparently considered to be a safe place (a 7-Eleven) before vanishing.

Just after 6 a.m. yesterday morning, according to the Aurora Police Department, the girl was attempting to cross East Colfax at Laredo Street when she was hit by a car.

The scene.

Rather than immediately rabbiting, the driver stopped his car, picked up the girl by her coat and put her into his car, climbed back behind the wheel and drove east on Colfax before executing a U-turn. Then he changed his mind about his direction again, U-turning a second time and pulling into the parking lot of a nearby 7-Eleven, on the corner of the intersection where the accident took place. At that point, the girl, who suffered scrapes and abrasions in the incident, got out of the car and he drove away.

The driver's reasons for taking the girl for a mini-spin show no evidence of being nefarious. As APD public information officer Frank Fania told 9News, "The suspect didn't make any threats, really didn't make any statements, never touched her, harmed her, threatened her in any way. It appears that he truly was trying to get her help and maybe panicked and fortunately brought her right back to the 7-Eleven. But then he drove off, which is still a crime."

As such, the APD is on the lookout for a man described as a "skinny" African-American male with short dreadlocks. The car, for its part, was a dark-colored sedan that may have been caught in surveillance footage from the area. Cops are also interested in chatting with a heavyset white man who was sitting at a nearby bus stop when the weird scene went down.

Those with info about the case are encouraged to phone Detective Christine Hurley at 303-739-6113, Sergeant Joe Young at 303-739-6093 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Look below to see a 9News report, followed by an interactive graphic of the area near the scene. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map."

View Larger Map

Tags:

Aurora Police Department, Colfax, good Samaritan, hit and run, Laredo

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Captaingrumpy

could go either way.

Juan_Leg topcommenter

That's almost like taking a chick through a 'drive-thru' after raping her .

'Adult Swim' material .....

Stephen At Half Aspen

Chris, under the law it is kidnapping but when you apply common sense (something our laws seriously lack at times) it makes no sense to charge him so seriously. Yes, hit and run, leaving the scene, etc, but not a felony that could well imprison him for life.

Chris Estus

Sorry Kate he forced the girl in the car that is kidnapping.

JimTom topcommenter

She siad no to getting in the car and then he forced her in the car, what part does Westword think is not kidnapping? "But for future reference, one's Good Samaritan reputation isn't enhanced byleaving the scene." A good samaritan? didn't he hit her to begin with? I used to read the onion for stupid articles but it hard to find, now I just pickup a Westword. Pot ads and stupid articles all in one!

Juan_Leg topcommenter

@chrisestus It's obvious you haven't opened the Post anytime of late .....

We ARE talking about Arapahoe county !

Kate Honas

No, it seems like he wanted to help but panicked and then thought dropping her off at a gas station would at least be better than leaving her alone in the street. A hit and run is still warranted, but not kidnapping since I don't think that was ever his intention.