Man accused of hitting woman with car then kidnapping her

Metris Javon Bell

(St, Louis County Jail)

DULUTH, Minn. – A man is accused of hitting a woman with a car in the broad daylight, dragging her limp body into the car, and then dropping her off in another location.

Police documents say Metris Javon Bell, 31, of Duluth is accused of hitting a woman with his car just before 11 a.m. behind the Damiano Center on November 7.

Charging documents say cameras show a car driving down an alleyway near the Damiano Center.  Video shows the car appearing to strike the woman.  The police investigation accuses Bell of getting out of his car and dragging the woman into his car.  Bell allegedly told witness, “I’m taking her to the emergency room.”

Cameras throughout Duluth showed that vehicle then driving around parts of the Central Hillside neighborhood.

The car was not on camera the entire time.  Police believe Bell left the victim in an alley during one of the times the car was not seen on camera.

Police say they made contact with the victim in an alley behind the 100 block E 3rd Street.  The Probable Cause Statement says she told police that she believed she was hit by a car, but did not know how she got from the Damiano Center-area to the alley.  She told police that someone dropped her off in the alley, but did not know who did it.

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Police said they believed Bell was driving the car due to surveillance in the area due to another investigation, plus video cameras in the area.

Bell made his first appearance in court on November 12, 2025.  His next court hearing is scheduled for December 9, 2025.

He is officially charged with Felony “Kidnapping – Victim not released in a safe place” and Felony “Criminal Vehicular Operation – Substantial Bodily Harm – Driver Who Causes Collision Leaves Scene”.