Morgan County man accused of barricading 4 in home at gunpoint

DECATUR, Ala. ( WHNT ) — A man was charged with four counts of kidnapping in Decatur, according to police.

The Decatur Police Department arrested John Derek Mitchell on Monday at his home. He was charged with four counts of kidnapping.

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DPD said at around 5:37 p.m. Sunday, dispatch received a call in reference to a possible kidnapping near the intersection of Sandlin Road and Austinville Road.

The department said officers responded to the location and made contact with two adults and two children who said they had just escaped from a nearby location. DPD said a detective was called and began an investigation.

According to a department spokesperson, it was reported that on Saturday Mitchell held all four victims at gunpoint and barricaded them inside his home in the 400 block of Autumnwood Drive SW for more than a day before they were able to escape.

DPD said four warrants were obtained for Mitchell for kidnapping in the second degree.

After his arrest he was taken to the Morgan County Jail and held on a $200,000 bond.

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