BROKEN ARROW abduction

An overnight abduction has a happy ending. Broken Arrow Police have arrested a man accused of abducting his former girlfriend early Thursday morning in Broken Arrow. <br><br>Police say a family member

Thursday, June 7th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

An overnight abduction has a happy ending. Broken Arrow Police have arrested a man accused of abducting his former girlfriend early Thursday morning in Broken Arrow.

Police say a family member helped Robby Childress turn himself in. The victim, Janice Richardson was also returned by Childress. She was released uninjured.

KOTV's Tami Marler says the families of both Janice Richardson and Robby Childress say the couple has had serious problems. So what happened in the early morning hours may not have been such a surprise.

Richardson and her younger sister came home to a waiting Robby Childress, the ex-boyfriend with a history of domestic assault. Sgt. Jeff Martin, Broken Arrow Police: "And when she just arrived home, that's when he approached her initially and tried to get her out of the vehicle. She was able to stay inside of the vehicle and left trying to find some kind of protection." But the Richardson sisters were far from safe.

Police say Childress rammed their car until he forced them off the road. Then he took Janice Richardson with him. Sgt. Jeff Martin, Broken Arrow Police: "He grabbed her, forced her into his vehicle and then left South on 193rd East Avenue."

Police documents confirm Childress had previously been in trouble over Richardson. He was arrested at her apartment in April, charged with assault and battery. Just one of the reasons police are checking every lead. Sgt. Heath Arning, Broken Arrow Police: "Where are they, and are they okay? Our concerns are for both of them, because we cannot locate them, nor can their family."

Court records show Janice Richardson had an active protective order against Robby Childress.

Childress was arrested on complaints of assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, leaving the scene of an injury accident, and violation of a protective order.