Clay County: Moorhead Man Charged with Kidnapping, Assault

CLAY COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — A Moorhead man has been charged with multiple felonies after police say he kidnapped a woman at gunpoint and drove her to Fargo early Sunday morning.

According to court documents, William Terrell Cobbins is facing five felony charges, including kidnapping, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of threats of violence.

The incident began around 4:13 a.m. on September 28, when law enforcement was dispatched to a high-rise apartment building in Moorhead. A witness told officers he had just seen a kidnapping take place. He said Cobbins, who was familiar with the female victim, wanted to speak with her.

Police say Cobbins then pulled out a gun, ordered a male victim out of the vehicle, and drove away with the female victim and another woman who was accompanying him. As of Friday, October 3, that woman has not been charged.

During the drive, the victim told investigators that Cobbins pointed the gun at her and demanded to know how much money she could provide within 20 minutes. When she said she could get help from her family, the other woman reportedly commented that the victim’s mother was wealthy and hinted at “selling” her — a statement the victim believed referred to sex trafficking.

The victim was later located by police near the Bison Hotel in Fargo, where Cobbins was arrested without incident. The firearm recovered was later determined to be a BB gun resembling a real handgun.

Authorities say the case remains under investigation by the Moorhead Police Department, with assistance from Fargo Police and the Clay County Attorney’s Office.

Cobbins remains in custody pending further court proceedings. No other arrests have been announced at this time.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.