Man faces abduction charge

Student reportedly forced his former girlfriend into truck

Garret Zunk, 20, of Bay Township faces a third-degree felony charge and the possibility of additional charges stemming from an incident Saturday.

PORT CLINTON — An Ottawa County man was charged with abduction after he allegedly drove away from a party with his ex-girlfriend, who had tried to escape the vehicle.

Garret Zunk, 20, of Bay Township faces the third-degree felony and the possibility of added charges stemming from the incident Saturday.

Port Clinton attorney Thomas DeBacco said his client is innocent and did nothing to force the woman.

Mr. Zunk was released from the Ottawa County jail Monday, after an Ottawa County Municipal Court hearing at which his bond was set at $175,000.

Authorities allege Mr. Zunk and an ex-girlfriend were at a party when they got into a truck and began to yell.

The woman tried to get out and screamed, but Mr. Zunk kept locking the doors, according to a report from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. Other people at the party tried to assist.

Witnesses told police that Mr. Zunk put the truck in motion and fled. One person, Chris Williams of Port Clinton, was hurt as he tried to stop the vehicle as it left.

Mr. Williams was treated at Magruder Hospital for his injuries and released.

The woman was later dropped off without her pants or undergarments at her parents’ home by the defendant’s mother, according to the police report. The woman had black and blue marks around her eyes, and her face was swollen.

Authorities tracked down Mr. Zunk at a friend’s house and took him into custody. The defendant allegedly gave a deputy permission to retrieve medication from a car registered to Mr. Zunk. While picking up the bottle, an officer saw muddy, yoga-type pants and a shoe on the floor of the car, and according to the report, the pants matched the description of what the victim wore to the party.

Mr. DeBacco said Mr. Zunk, a Terra State Community College student, went to the party because the woman wanted to talk.

“My client is a 20-year-old young man who has never been in trouble in his life,” Mr. DeBacco said. “He and this young lady were friends and lovers for three years. They broke up and [on] the night in question she texted and invited him to come to this party.”

Ottawa County Prosecutor Mark Mulligan said he anticipates other charges against Mr. Zunk will be brought to a grand jury for consideration.

A municipal court hearing is set for May 12.

Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.