Woman Kidnapped In U-Haul, Stabbed In Fingers By PG County Man: Police

LANHAM, MD — A Prince George's County man is facing dozens of charges after state police said he kidnapped a woman in a U-Haul truck, removed her clothes and stabbed her fingers with a pocket knife.

According to Maryland State Police, Dennis Bell, 62, of Lanham, was driving a U-Haul truck in Washington, D.C., on Friday when he encountered his female victim at a convenience store on Minnesota Avenue Southeast. The victim later told police that Bell pushed her into the truck and threatened her life if she didn't comply, authorities said.

According to state police, Bell drove around all day with the victim sitting on the front seat floorboard. While in the truck, police said Bell removed the victim's clothing and used a pocket knife to stab her fingers.

Around 9:45 p.m., state troopers received multiple calls about a U-Haul truck driving erratically and hitting several parked cars on Princess Garden Parkway in Lanham, authorities said.

Police later found the truck on Route 450 and attempted to stop Bell, according to authorities. Bell refused, and police pursued him until the truck became disabled in a ditch near Baltimore Avenue and Elm Street, authorities said.

During a standoff with troopers, police said Bell refused to exit the truck. Troopers gained access to the truck through the passenger side window, where they discovered his victim without clothing and with wounds to her fingers, police said.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, police said.

Bell was arrested and charged with 14 counts, including first-degree assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, possession of suspected crack cocaine, and impaired driving following the Friday incident. Bell also faces 19 traffic charges, police said.

Bell is currently being held at the Upper Marlboro Department of Corrections, police said.