A woman who said she was held against her will later escaped by fleeing to a Great Bend business Sunday evening. Great Bend Police Chief Steven Haulmark released the following information.

On Aug.16, at approximately 5:45 p.m., officers with the Great Bend Police Department were dispatched to a business in Great Bend after receiving a report of a female who had run into the business stating that a male was following her.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the female victim, who reported that she had been restrained inside a residence by Mario Lira, 30, and was not allowed to leave.

The victim reported that she eventually pretended to be sick in an attempt to get away from Lira. She stated that Lira subsequently gave her a ride to the hospital but refused to allow her to exit the vehicle.

A short time later, the victim attempted to exit the moving vehicle. According to the victim, Lira restrained her and repeatedly threatened to crash the vehicle and kill them both. While the vehicle was stopped at an intersection, the victim was able to escape from the vehicle and flee on foot to the nearby business, and the business employees contacted 911.

Officers later located Lira, and he was placed under arrest. Lira was booked into the Barton County Jail on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping, criminal threat, criminal restraint, and domestic battery.

This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident, or any other criminal activity, is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120, Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300, or submit information online through P3 Tips at p3tips.com.