A Portland, Oregon, woman helped police identify La Fete, 25, as a suspect hours after she was allegedly kidnapped by a man with a machete on Friday and escaped.
Phet, who is originally from Thailand, appeared in court on Monday with a Burmese interpreter present. according to He has pleaded not guilty to the charges he’s facing in court, according to KATU. The suspect is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse, coercion, menacing, fourth-degree assault, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person, the news outlet reported. report.
A doorbell camera captured the 47-year-old woman on a stranger’s doorstep pleading for help, as a car can be seen driving away in the background.
KATU reported that the woman was walking in Portland’s Southeast neighborhood around 1:30 a.m. Friday night when Fett drove by in a car and asked if he wanted a ride, court documents state.
The woman reportedly told police that Fett made sexual comments and advances towards her after she got into his car.
Portland Police Fett then reportedly entered the parking lot and pulled out a machete. (Related article: “I tried to kill him”: Naked man allegedly chopped off victim’s hand with machete)
The media outlet claims the victim tried to run away, but Fett accelerated his car.
The media outlet reported that after Fett sped off, the woman said she was hit in the nose while the car was still moving and fled. She then reportedly ran down the street to seek help at a nearby house.
Police said Fett chased the woman, who was able to hide in a driveway while on the phone with police, according to the outlet. Fett then fled the scene a short time later, police said.
Police arrived on the scene and assisted the woman while other officers found Fett, who had parked his car, according to the outlet. The woman was reportedly able to identify Fett as the kidnapper after being pulled over for a traffic violation.
“There is probable cause to believe the defendant committed a heinous crime,” the judge said Monday before deciding to hold Fett without bail for a detention hearing, according to KATU.
This is reportedly not Fett’s first encounter with Portland police: Police arrested him in May 2023 after he allegedly threatened a family with a gun and shot into the tires of the family’s car, the outlet reported. At the time, the suspect had reportedly been a victim of threats and property damage.
Fett is due to appear in court again on Tuesday, the outlet reported.
