A Rushford man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly forcing a woman into his vehicle, threatening her with a firearm, and driving at high speeds across multiple counties before she jumped from the moving truck to escape.
Phillip Allen Heyer, 39, is charged in Fillmore County District Court with two counts of kidnapping, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of felony domestic assault, and threats of violence. The charges stem from an incident reported on April 26.
According to the criminal complaint, the woman told investigators she had been in a romantic relationship with Heyer. The incident began after she went to his residence to retrieve her phone, which he had taken the night before.
She told authorities that Heyer refused to return the phone and physically assaulted her, grabbing her by the head and attempting to lift her off the ground. In the process, she suffered injuries to her face, including scratches and a gash. She was eventually able to leave and returned to her home in Rushford.
Roughly 20 minutes later, Heyer allegedly arrived at her residence. The woman attempted to calm the situation and told him she did not want to argue, noting that her son was inside the home. According to the complaint, Heyer continued yelling and asked her to speak with him in his truck.
She told investigators she was afraid to get into the vehicle. At one point, she collapsed in her yard. The complaint states Heyer then dragged her into the truck, lifting her by the waist and placing her in the back seat against her will.
Once inside the vehicle, the situation escalated.
Investigators say Heyer retrieved a long gun from the back seat, cocked it, and ejected a round. The woman told authorities he threatened to kill her or himself while holding the firearm against her body.
Heyer then began driving, at times reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour on gravel roads while sliding around corners. According to the complaint, he told the woman he believed she had been involved with another man and said he intended to go to that person’s residence.
The complaint states Heyer drove across multiple locations, including areas in Fillmore and Houston counties. At one point, after missing a driveway, he fired the gun twice out the window of the truck.
Investigators say Heyer eventually drove to a wooded area near his parents’ property, where he parked and continued making statements that he did not care whether he lived or died. The woman told investigators that Heyer brought the firearm into the back seat and appeared as though he might shoot himself.
She grabbed the barrel of the gun and pleaded with him not to hurt her or himself.
The woman was eventually able to get out of the vehicle and distance herself. According to the complaint, she hid and believed Heyer may have shot himself after hearing a gunshot. When she realized he was still alive, she continued moving away and attempted to find help.
A short time later, however, Heyer drove past her. The woman told investigators she was injured, barefoot, and alone on a rural road, and ultimately accepted a ride from him so she could return home.
As they approached Rushford, the situation escalated again.
The complaint states Heyer became agitated and began driving erratically once more, continuing past her residence and heading toward a rural area outside of town near Bratsberg. Fearing for her life, the woman repeatedly asked him to stop.
He did not.
As the vehicle traveled along a gravel road, the woman made the decision to jump.
She exited the moving truck and landed on the roadway, later telling investigators she believed she had broken her arm. Despite her injuries, she was able to get up and make her way toward a nearby residence for help.
Authorities say she eventually reached a location where she was able to call 911. She was transported to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, where she was treated for a broken collarbone and significant road rash injuries, including wounds to her knee and arm.
Authorities reviewed Heyer’s criminal history and noted prior convictions, including a harassment restraining order violation in Dodge County earlier this year and a harassment conviction in Winona County in 2020.
Heyer was taken into custody and remained detained following his initial court appearance. The court has ordered that he surrender any firearms in his possession and prohibited him from possessing weapons while the case is pending.
An omnibus hearing is scheduled for May 27 in Fillmore County District Court.
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