MILTON — A former Milton man was who fled the area with a woman he reportedly assaulted in a parking lot was arrested in North Carolina after police tracked his movements by calling his victim on her cell phone.

Police went to Milton Village at about 10:15 a.m. last Saturday after receiving a call that a woman was being assaulted in a parking lot.

By the time police arrived, the attacker and the victim were gone. Witnesses said a man had knocked the woman down, dragged her by the hair, and punched her several times before forcing her into a black Dodge Neon that left the area.

Witnesses told police the man’s name was Rider and woman was named Latoya. Another man with the two was named Mutschler. Police from Milton, Watsontown, Lewisburg and Mifflinburg searched various areas of three counties but did not locate the vehicle or its occupants.

Car found a day later

At about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, police returned to Milton Village and found the car in the parking lot. They could see Mutschler through a window and were advised he was sought in Montour County. When officers knocked at the front door, he attempted to flee through the back door and was arrested. He told police Rider and Latoya were in a house in Montour County, but when police went to that address, neither person was there. He also told police he had recently returned to the area from North Carolina.

Victim reached by cell phone

Several hours later, Milton police obtained a cell phone number for the woman, who was identified as Latoya Hendricks. When she was contacted, she told police she was all right, but she would not explain what had happened. She was asked to come to the Milton police station and promised to arrive within the hour.

By 11 a.m. Sunday, she had not arrived at the police station, and several futile attempts were made to reach her again by phone. When she did not arrive by noon, police requested the cell phone provider to trace the phone, which was located near Frederick, Md. The most recent call from the phone was made to Raleigh, N.C. Several hours later, the phone was located near Richmond, Va.

Police in Raleigh were contacted and took Rider into custody on Monday. Hendricks was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries, which included a cut on her head that required stitches, numerous abrasions and bruises on her arms and legs.

Randy Lee Rider Jr., 21, whose address was listed as 1235 Showers Road, Muncy, was returned to Pennsylvania and arraigned Wednesday before District Judge William F. Kear.

Rider was charged with simple assault, aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, harassment and unlawful restraint, and taken to Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight bail.