photo by: Kansas Department of Corrections

Michael J. Herschell

A Lawrence man is in custody after being accused of kidnapping and other crimes.

The man, Michael J. Herschell, 34, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of kidnapping, aggravated assault, criminal damage and violating a protection order.

Lawrence police responded to a report around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday that two people had been threatened with a knife and were essentially being held captive at a residence by Herschell, said Lt. David Ernst, a spokesman for the Lawrence Police Department.

Officers located Herschell nearby and placed him under arrest, Ernst said. No injuries were reported. Herschell was later booked into the Douglas County Jail and is being held on a $75,000 bond.

Herschell has a history of domestic battery and criminal damage charges dating back to 2016. He currently has three ongoing cases in which he’s charged with domestic battery and criminal damage in addition to this week’s charges, according to Douglas County Court records. He was discharged by the Kansas Department of Corrections on Jan. 1, 2019, after serving time stemming from battery, theft and criminal threat convictions.