MARION COUNTY, OR (KOIN/CNN) – A 25-year-old man in Oregon faces multiple charges, including kidnapping and burglary, after investigators say he broke into a mother’s home and held her, along with her child, at knife point.
Christopher Hahn-Collins, 25, appeared in court Monday to officially hear the charges against him. A judge ordered him held without bail and set his next court date for Dec. 20.
Investigators say Hahn-Collins broke into the home of a mother in Salem, OR, Friday and hid inside until she and her child returned home.
The suspect then held the two at knife point overnight, investigators say.
Marion County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Baldridge says the case is rare and scary because authorities believe the suspect didn’t know the victim before the incident.
“For all intents and purposes, these two don't know each other. He ends up in her home and keeps her captive for 24 hours. It's a terribly frightening case,” Baldridge said.
Hahn-Collins took the mother and child to a Dick’s Sporting Goods store Saturday afternoon, where the woman mouthed to other customers she needed help.
The customers called 911, and Hahn-Collins was arrested.
Baldridge says the mother did the right thing by staying calm in a frightening situation.
“It resulted in her being able to get away and her being able to summon help, and I think that's been kind of our message, which is remain calm and do everything that you can to get away from that person. Really, in this situation, it was probably the best thing she could have done,” Baldridge said.
He says the patrons at Dick’s did the right thing, too, when they called for help.
Hahn-Collins was wanted for a parole violation at the time of the incident. He also has a history of arrests for sexual abuse and assault.
Copyright 2017 KOIN, Marion County Sheriff’s Office via CNN. All rights reserved.
