Poughkeepsie man charged with kidnapping woman and 2 children

Police say the victim was sitting in her parked car on Spruce Street on Monday when Derrick Woodhoouse, 49, displayed a knife, and told her that he was getting into the car.

News 12 Staff

Feb 8, 2023, 11:44 AM

Updated 609 days ago

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A Poughkeepsie man has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly abducting a woman and her 3-year-old and 5-year-old children.
Police say the victim was sitting in her parked car on Spruce Street on Monday when Derrick Woodhoouse, 49, displayed a knife, and told her that he was getting into the car. He told her to do what he said, or he would hurt her kids.
They say the suspect then told the victim to drive to a store and get money from her bank account while he waited in the car.
She did what he said, and then, Woodhouse allegedly told her to drive to a second location.
When they got there, she began crying, and he started screaming, causing bystanders to start taking notice.
Police say Woodhouse reportedly quickly exited the vehicle without taking the money.
Investigators identified Woodhouse as the suspect and arrested him Tuesday just after 10 p.m., after they received a call about a suspicious person on Main Street.
Police say Woodhouse has four prior violent felony convictions. He is now charges of kidnapping, attempted robbery, and endangering the welfare of a child.