PEA RIDGE — There was no abduction.

Within less than 24 hours of reporting that he saw four men throw a young woman into a pickup truck and drive off, Charles Joseph Ferguson was behind bars.

Ferguson, 25, of King Lane apartments, called 911 about 5:45 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 4, reporting that he had witnessed an abduction. Police officers, who had been patrolling in the area, were on the scene within minutes, according to Police Chief Tim Ledbetter.

Benton County Sheriff’s deputies assisted Pea Ridge police searching for the dark-colored pickup truck Ferguson reported seeing.

Police searched the area, checked every apartment in the complex and found no one missing.

Within hours of the reported abduction, dispatchers at Benton County Central Communications were receiving phone calls from concerned citizens about it.

Ferguson was interviewed again, with details of the incident and the description of the men involved being sketchy, Ledbetter said. Thursday, Ferguson contacted police to make a statement.

“I don’t know if it happened or maybe I was sleepwalking and dreamed it. But I called the cops anyway,” Ferguson wrote. He also reported possibly taking non-prescribed medications and illegal substances. His parole officer was contacted and he was arrested in connection with a felony parole violation and transported to Benton County Jail, where he was still incarcerated Tuesday with no bond set.

News, Pages 1 on 08/11/2010