Iowa man arrested for kidnapping wife

James Chelf, 33, is being held without bond in a Pottawattamie County jail after being charged with kidnapping his wife from their Walnut, IA home.

Deputies were called to a residence in Walnut about a couple who were fighting. Danker said the caller told emergency dispatch Chelf was pushing and threatening his 34-year-old wife. Witnesses then told investigators Chelf forced his wife into a car and headed for Omaha.

While on route to Omaha Chelf's wife allegedly called a relative telling her Chelf was threatening to kill her and was making statements about harming other people in Omaha, Danker said.
At some point for reasons that were not clear this morning, Chelf stopped the car near the Shelby exit where his wife got out of the car and ran away. She was later picked up by another motorist and taken to a Shelby restaurant where she called for help, Danker said.

Chelf, who is being held without bond, was arrested near Highway 6 & Interstate 280. According to Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker, Chelf is being held on charges including 2nd degree kidnapping, aggravated assault, and serious assault.