Story Of Iowa Fugitive Caught In Fontana For Imprisoning Teen For Days Takes Turn

FONTANA (CBSLA.com) – A 72-year-old fugitive on the run following allegations he locked up a 14-year-old girl for days in Iowa was arrested in Fontana Friday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reports.

Frank French was taken into custody by US Marshals at around 2 p.m. in the area of Sierra Way and Baseline Road, SBSD reports. He faces multiple counts of false imprisonment, child endangerment with bodily injury and child endangerment.

According the sheriff's department, French was wanted out of Council Bluffs, Iowa, for holding a girl captive in a locked room for days, where he "forced her to live in deplorable and inhumane conditions." Initial reports by authorities alleged that French had held the girl for "years."

When French learned warrants had been issued for his arrest, he fled.

On Saturday, the story took a strange twist.

The Pottawattamie County district attorney said French was a fugitive but clarified and corrected the want.

French is apparently facing child abuse charges for abusing his own daughter. At one point, he is accused of locking the girl in her room for four days. The district attorney also said a warrant was issued for his arrest this past January.

Anyone with information on the case should call the sheriff's department.