MITCHELL— A Mitchell man has been arrested on a wide range of felony charges, including rape, kidnapping, and criminal confinement, following a report from a woman who claimed she was held against her will for several days.
Scottie L. Crane, 53, of Mitchell, was taken into custody on August 29, 2025, after a search warrant was executed at his home.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Mitchell Police Officer Garrett Jacobs, police were contacted by a woman on August 25 who reported she had been held at Crane’s home from August 19 to August 24. She told officers that she had gone to Crane’s house after hearing he was interested in buying her car. Once inside, she alleged that Crane locked the door, took her phone, and used a handgun and a knife to threaten her, telling her she was going to “do what I want.”
The woman claimed she was sexually assaulted multiple times a day during her confinement. She also told police that on one occasion, when an officer arrived at the residence, Crane forced her to say to the officer she was fine and did not need help, or he would kill her dog.
The victim stated she was finally able to escape when Crane took her to another location. As he turned to go to the door, she ran to State Road 60 with her dog. She alleged that Crane threatened to run her over if she did not get back in the vehicle, but he left when another car appeared on the highway.
Based on the woman’s statements, which included details about the inside of the residence and the alleged weapons, officers obtained and executed a search warrant for Crane’s home. When officers entered, they found the residence in a state of disarray and noted a two-by-four board nailed across the back door, a detail the victim had described. They also located clothing matching the victim’s description.
Crane was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and is being held on charges of rape with a deadly weapon, pointing a firearm, criminal confinement with a deadly weapon, kidnapping with a deadly weapon, sexual battery with a threat of deadly force, strangulation, intimidation with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, and interference with the reporting of a crime.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
