Hillsboro Police Say Internet Meeting Led to Rape and Kidnapping

Police say the woman escaped from the man after he drove her to a store to get a prescription.

Vernon Louis Woodall of Hillsboro is in jail for raping and kidnapping a Washington woman he reportedly met online. Photo: Hillsboro Police

(HILLSBORO, Ore.) - A 48-year old Hillsboro man suspected of raping a 20-year old woman he met on the Internet was arrested by police over the weekend. They say Vernon Louis Woodall is in custody on rape and kidnapping charges after he was taken into custody with an arrest warrant.

Lt. Michael Rouches with Hillsboro Police says officers acted on a report by a 20-year old Washougal Washington woman who told them she met Woodall online, and that she had agreed to meet him on April 16th 2008.

Police say Woodall drove the woman from her home in Washington, when they agreed to spend time together. They reportedly went shopping and driving. The woman told police that they decided to drive to his home in Hillsboro.

"Once in the apartment, Woodall would not let the victim leave by pushing her down and threatening her. Overnight, Woodall forcibly had sexual relations with the victim, again not allowing her to leave," Rouches said.

On April 17th, the next day, the suspect reportedly agreed to drive the victim to a store to get a prescription, whereby she escaped from him, returned home, and later called police.

Officers, Detectives and Tacticians from HPD gather probable cause for arrest of Woodall and for a search warrant for his residence.

The search warrant and arrest were served without incident and Woodall was taken into custody. Police say they seized evidence from his home and lodged Woodall in the Washington County Jail on charges of rape and kidnap under a $500,000. bail.