Held Against Her Will: Troopers Arrest 2 In I-87 Travel Plaza Drama

ULSTER, NY — New York State Police have arrested two men in connection to a hair-raising incident at Ulster Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway.

Troopers arrested 34-year-old Jeffrey D. Blount and 31-year-old Kevin Smalls, both of Utica, following a startling incident at the travel plaza on I-87.

On January 2, at around 3 a.m., troopers responded to the Ulster Travel Plaza on Interstate 87 south for a report of a 27-year-old woman being held against her will. The first troopers on the scene found that the victim had left the location in a vehicle that continued southbound on the highway.

Troopers were able to find the vehicle in Orange County, where the 27-year-old woman, from Utica, was found unharmed.

Blount was arrested and charged with misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment. Smalls was also arrested and charged with misdemeanor forcible touching. Blount was arraigned at the Ulster County Court Centralized Arraignment Part and released on his own recognizance. Smalls was issued an Appearance Ticket to appear in the Town of Ulster Court on January 7.

Both suspects were known to the victim, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety, according to New York State Police.