Man facing battery of charges after stealing van, kidnapping passenger

A man has been arrested after stealing a van and kidnapping its occupant Saturday morning.

The van was parked in the lot of the Safeway at Northwest Boulevard and Ash Street with a male passenger inside when Charles A. Guerin, who was shoeless and shirtless, entered it and drove off at a high rate of speed towards Division, not giving the passenger a chance to exit.

At Division and Jackson and still traveling at high speed, Guerin forced passenger out of the vehicle, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

Driving westbound on Spokane Falls Boulevard, Guerin crashed into another vehicle near Bernard and fled on foot. He entered Riverfront Park near the red wagon statue, and was soon after taken into custody by officers on the scene.

He has been charged kidnapping, robbery and assault, all in the first degree, as well as with drug possession and driving under the influence.

Officer Kyle Yrigollen said Sunday that the passenger appeared to be injured, but not severely.