A Gallup man is facing charges of aggravated battery and false imprisonment after he allegedly locked a woman in his house and wouldn’t let her leave.
On May 13, around 10:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Elijah Bowman was dispatched to the Diamond Canyon Drive Trailer Park to meet with a man who said another man, who was identified as 30-year-old Jason Kezele, had trapped a woman inside his home.
The man explained that he’d dropped the woman off at Kezel’s house so that she could take a shower around 5 pm. He told the victim he’d back in about an hour to pick her up. But when he came back Kezele stepped out of the trailer and told him the woman was inside sleeping.
According to the report, Kezele told the man to wait and then became hostile toward him. The man told Kezele he was going to call the police. Kezle reportedly went back into the trailer and told the woman that the man was outside.
The man reportedly asked if he could check on his friend but Kezle would not let him into the trailer, and told him to come back later. The man reportedly returned an hour later to give the woman her phone, which she reportedly left in his car.
But when he returned Kezele said the woman wasn’t there. The man ultimately drove to the woman’s boyfriend’s house and left the phone with him.
Bowman was able to meet with the female victim in the back room of the trailer. According to his report the victim had a swollen cheek.
The woman said she’d come to Kezele’s house to take shower. As she was getting undressed Kezele reportedly came back inside the house and ended up trapping her inside a room. He allegedly wouldn’t let her leave the room, blocking the door with his body for about two hours.
When the woman tried to leave the room, Kezele allegedly punched her in the face and knocked her unconscious. After the incident Kezele reportedly left the scene on his bike.
Bowman filed a warrant for Kezele’s arrest after listening to the woman explain what happened. The warrant was served to Kezele on July 9. He is facing charges of false imprisonment and aggravated battery against a household member. His preliminary examination is scheduled for July 24 at the Gallup Magistrate Court.
Staff Reports
