Ooltewah man charged in kidnapping

photo Oscar Lopez

An Ooltewah man was arrested Thursday after his girlfriend accused him of holding her at gunpoint.

Oscar Lopez, 34, is charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a felony.

His girlfriend, Scarlen Santiago, 35, said Lopez came into her home Wednesday with a silver and black gun and started yelling about her cheating on him.

She said Lopez played a long recording on his phone and forced her to listen to it. He told her she couldn't leave until she heard the entire recording, Santiago told police.

After about 40 minutes, Santiago told Lopez she needed to go to the bathroom. He let her go, and she fled through the garage to a neighbor's house, she said.

Lopez admitted to confronting Santiago about cheating, but denied having a gun at the time. He told police he kept a gun in his safe, and police found a silver and black 9 mm gun that matched Santiago's description in the safe.

Lopez's bond was set at $16,000. He will appear in Hamilton County General Session Court on Oct. 1.

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