Man Arrested for Allegedly Kidnapping Teen After Car Crash

A 58-year-old man was arrested after allegedly kidnapping a 17-year-old teen following a car accident. Despite the teen’s repeated requests to be dropped off at his grandparents’ home, the man continued to drive him around for several hours before ultimately releasing him.

Kidnapped After Car Crash

At 7:30 a.m. on January 16th, a car crash occurred at the intersection of S 5th Street and Riverside Parkway in Grand Junction. The 17-year-old teen involved in the crash was approached by the other driver, who offered to assist with fixing the teen’s damaged tire. After purchasing a replacement tire, the man did not return to the accident site as promised. Instead, he drove off and continued driving for several hours, even though the teen repeatedly asked to be taken home.

The teen’s family grew concerned when they did not hear from him, eventually prompting the police to be called. His grandfather reported the situation to the Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD) shortly before noon, linking the incident to a possible kidnapping.

A Close Call with the Law

The GJPD quickly connected the teen’s ordeal with a separate incident earlier that morning involving a swerving truck near I-70 and Horizon Drive. Despite efforts by officers to pull the truck over, the driver ignored them and continued driving erratically through the city. Officers pursued the vehicle, and a final traffic stop was made near 26 Road and G Road.

The driver was arrested without further incident and identified as 58-year-old Rex Schiesser. He was subsequently booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on several charges related to the incident.

The Charges

Schießer faces a range of serious charges, including:

• 2nd Degree Kidnapping
• Reckless Endangerment
• Felony Eluding
• False Imprisonment
• DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
• Multiple Hit and Run Violations
• Reckless Driving
• Disregarding a Stop Sign

This series of criminal offenses paints a disturbing picture of Schiesser’s actions and highlights the gravity of the situation.

A Concern for Community Safety

The GJPD has issued a reminder to the community, urging families to have open conversations about the importance of safety and the risks involved in interacting with strangers. The events surrounding this incident serve as a sobering reminder of how quickly situations can escalate when trust is misplaced.

The teen, fortunately, was not injured during the ordeal. However, this incident raises concerns about personal safety and the potential dangers lurking even in seemingly mundane situations.