An Arkansas City man with a previous felony conviction was arrested early Sunday after police say he threatened and assaulted a woman before forcing her to accompany him to an ATM to withdraw money.
Steven Joshua Lemus, 31, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, criminal threat, battery, robbery and attempted theft. He remained in the Cowley County Jail on a $163,750 bond, according to the Arkansas City Police Department.
Court records show Lemus was previously convicted in Sedgwick County in 2020 of aggravated domestic battery.
Officers were called to a residence in the 700 block of South Summit Street around 9:15 p.m. Saturday following a reported disturbance involving an argument over money.
A witness told police Lemus had been yelling at a woman and demanding money. The witness said Lemus threatened to harm the woman if she refused to accompany him to an ATM.
Both had left the residence before officers arrived.
Police obtained a description of the vehicle and began checking area ATMs.
Around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, officers located Lemus and the woman at an ATM in the 1600 block of North Summit Street. Police said Lemus was sitting inside the vehicle while the woman withdrew money.
Lemus was detained at the scene. During an interview, the woman told officers she had been physically assaulted and threatened earlier that evening.
The new allegations have not been proven in court.
