By Doug Fletcher,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Rontrell J. Nelson, 20, the kidnapping suspect captured by a human chain of cops Saturday evening, remained in jail Sunday awaiting a date with the judge.

Nelson was being held on $52,000 cash bail Sunday night on charges of kidnapping, robbery and refusal to submit to arrest. A fourth charge – violating bail conditions – was levied against Nelson as well. That’s a charge for which no bail will be set.

An Androscoggin County jailer said Sunday night that Nelson would likely make his initial court appearance either today or Tuesday.

Nelson was arrested Saturday night in a 2-acre field off Turner Street, behind the Shaw’s Supermarket. Police had been looking for him for two days. The kidnapping and robbery charges stem from an incident involving a woman at the 7-Eleven store on Main Street in Lewiston on Friday.

Police allege that Nelson got into her car and forced her to drive off, then stole $100 in cash and a cell phone from her before fleeing by foot.

Nelson had been arrested and charged with assaulting the same woman earlier, according to Auburn police Lt. Tim Cougle.

Lewiston police records show that Nelson was arrested on July 11 and charged with an assault on Elm Street in that city.

Police said Nelson surrendered to police after a human chain of officers from Auburn, Lewiston and Androscoggin County deputies flushed him from the field.

Auburn firefighters assisted in the search, first with an infrared camera that detects body heat, then later with a ladder truck elevated to help spot the fugitive.

A member of the Central Maine Violent Crime Task Force had tipped local police that Nelson was hiding in the field.

Nelson was listed by Lewiston police as living on 8th St., in Auburn.

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