posted October 27, 2009
A man police say had kidnapped his former girlfriend at gunpoint was arrested on Tuesday at the Brainerd Wal-Mart.
Authorities said Alfrado Florence had a loaded Hi-Point .45-pistol when he was taken into custody inside the Wal-Mart.
He is now facing a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a handgun.
Florence appeared later Tuesday before Federal Magistrate Court Judge Susan Lee and ordered to be kept in custody.
FBI Agent Paul Healy said he happened to be at the Brainerd Wal-Mart working on another case at approximately 10:45 a.m. when the former girlfriend, Aisha Wellington, and Florence came inside.
Ms. Wellington said Florence had taken her at gunpoint from her home at 3223 Navajo Dr. in Brainerd.
She said she convinced Florence she needed to stop by Wal-Mart and exchange some items. She said she knew there would be security and police personnel at the store who could help her escape.
She said she contacted a relative who works at the store as well as another employee for help.
Agent Healy and other officers located Florence standing by a restroom, and they asked him to go with them outside. When he had been removed from the store, officer Brian Blumenberg conducted a frisk and found the weapon.
Authorities said they also found business cards from the state probation office on Florence. They said he is on probation after pleading guilty to statutory rape and getting a two-year sentence on Jan. 9, 2008.
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