Police arrest man accused of attempting to abduct woman in Grandview Heights

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man suspected of attempting to abduct a woman near a Grandview Heights apartment complex is now in custody.

According to detectives with the Grandview Heights Division of Police, 41-year-old Matthew Spencer was wanted for abduction, a third-degree felony. Spencer is accused of attempting to abduct a woman in the Grandview Yard on the evening of Dec. 11.

Police received reports of an attempted abduction at around 9:30 that night when a woman told officers she was walking to a residence at the Apartments at the Yard, on Baldwin Drive, when a man wearing a surgical mask grabbed her from behind.

The victim said the man attempted to pull her toward a car in a nearby parking lot and threatened to hurt her, but that she was able to break free and escape.

Grandview Heights police say Spencer, who is currently on parole for a guilty plea in a 2018 burglary case, was arrested Monday and is being held at Franklin County Jail.

Spencer has also faced charges in Franklin County Common Pleas Court and Municipal Court for burglary, twice, as well as escape, aggravated vehicular assault, drug trafficking, domestic violence, drug possession and violation of a protection order charges between 2004 and 2022.

Anyone who has additional information is asked to call Grandview Heights police at 614-488-7901.