Woman escapes trunk of moving car

The Chronicle Herald’s Eva Hoare reported on Thursday, August 18:

“A 29-year-old woman jumped out of the trunk of a moving car Monday night to get away from her alleged attacker, Halifax Regional Police say.

Officers arrested Steven Elliot Laffin, 35, shortly afterward and charged him with aggravated sexual assault, forcible confinement and uttering threats. He was to appear in Halifax provincial court Wednesday, said Const. Brian Palmeter.

The woman willingly got into the suspect’s car on Dentith Road in the Spryfield area of Halifax at about 10:45 p.m. after a conversation “of some sort” and was taken to a nearby parking lot, Palmeter said.

She was then allegedly assaulted and put in the car’s trunk, he said Wednesday. She didn’t know the man, he said.

“She was offered a ride and she accepted,” Palmeter said. “That’s what was basically reported to us.”

The woman managed to get out of the trunk while the car was driving along Old Sambro Road, possibly at the speed limit, Palmeter said.

She received a number of injuries but was able to knock on the door of a home in the 2000 block of Old Sambro Road for help.”

The Herald reports that Laffin later showed up at the Spryfield community police station, and was arrested when officers recognized his description.