UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT/ CRIMINAL DAMAGE- KINGMAN

Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested Kris Kristoferson Sousa, 42 of Bakersfield, CA, for Unlawful Imprisonment, two counts of Criminal Damage, 3rd Degree Escape, Bribing a Public Servant, all felonies, and misdemeanor Obstructing a Public Highway. On Friday (11/27) at approximately 7:30 AM, deputies responded to a truck stop in the 900 block of Blake Ranch Rd. in reference to a male subject harassing truck drivers in the parking lot. The truck stop’s manager also called, claiming a male subject in a dark grey Hyundai SUV was threatening some of the drivers, accusing them of kidnapping his wife.

Upon arrival, deputies were approached by the male subject, identified as Sousa, who claimed his wife had been kidnapped and he tracked her to this location. Deputies conducted a record check of the wife’s name, but could not find any reports of a missing person or kidnapping. Deputies advised Sousa he needed to stop harassing the truck drivers and causing a disturbance at the business. Sousa then left the area in his vehicle. A short time later, deputies were advised that Sousa’s vehicle was seen driving the wrong direction on the off ramp to Interstate 40. Deputies began patrolling the interstate looking for Sousa’s vehicle, and received a call from dispatch that a vehicle matching Sousa’s was blocking traffic at approximately milepost 65
westbound. Deputies responded to the location and observed Sousa’s vehicle parked sideways in the #1 lane and a semi-truck stopped behind it in-between both lanes.

Deputies gave verbal commands for Sousa to get on the ground and he complied. Sousa was placed in restraints, however attempted to pull away from deputies several times and began offering the deputies money to let him go. Contact was made with the semi-truck driver, who advised he had observed Sousa’s vehicle on the shoulder of the highway, so he switched to the #1 lane. Sousa then accelerated past the truck and began braking in front of him, causing the driver to slam on his brakes, which shifted his load and caused significant damage to the product he was carrying.

Deputies heard a banging noise, and observed Sousa was kicking the door of the patrol unit. Leg shackles had to be placed on Sousa, however significant damage had already been done to the door of the deputy’s vehicle. Sousa was transported to the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility, and continued to attempt to bribe the deputy to release him during the transport. Contact was later made with Sousa’s wife,
who advised she was safe and had not been kidnapped. This investigation is ongoing.

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