In Memphis, Tennessee, a man has been formally accused of attempting to kidnap the city’s mayor following a troubling incident outside the mayor’s residence. The individual, identified as 25-year-old Trenton Abston, was apprehended with several suspicious items in his vehicle including a Taser, gloves, rope, and duct tape as stated by law enforcement officials.
According to police reports released on Wednesday, Abston now faces charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking, and aggravated criminal trespass. Mayor Paul Young, who belongs to the Democratic party, had been at home with his wife and children when the suspect knocked on their door this past Sunday evening. The mayor noted that his doorbell’s surveillance camera displayed the visitor wearing gloves, with a suspicious bulge visible in his hoodie pocket.
After not receiving a response, Abston fled, yet his face was clearly documented on the camera footage according to the arrest affidavit. This unsettling event closely follows another incident where a Democratic lawmaker from Minnesota was tragically murdered. The alleged suspect in that unrelated case is charged with impersonating a police officer and fatally shooting former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their residence near Minneapolis.
Court documentation accessed recently does not specify whether Abston has secured legal representation. Awaiting his court appearance on Monday, he is expected to inform the judge of his legal counsel status. Abston, during questioning, disclosed to investigators his reason for approaching the mayor, expressing grievances regarding crime in Memphis. Admitting to carrying a Taser, he claimed to harbor anger towards Mayor Young.
The investigation further uncovered that Abston’s vehicle had repeatedly been spotted in the vicinity of Young’s residence on various dates between May and June. The findings highlight that the residential area boasts significant security measures with an encompassing wall, a guarded entrance, as well as rigorous video surveillance.
Authorities presented that security recordings depicted Abston scaling the wall to gain access, subsequently heading straight to Mayor Young’s domicile. By Tuesday, law enforcement managed to recognize Abston using police database resources. His identification was verified after showing a photograph from the incident to his work supervisor, leading to his arrest at his workplace on Wednesday, as noted in the affidavit.
The affidavit underscored that “Abston took substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping,” further worrying the mayor and his family who live within this secured neighborhood. Mayor Young has since addressed the community, emphasizing the need for civil discourse and condemning violence, stating that “disagreement must never lead to violence.”
Expressing his concerns online, Young urged a reconsideration of public communication styles in light of the recent tragic events in Minnesota and ongoing threats directed at his family. He wrote on social media stressing, “The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.”