9 hours ago
Anti-crime crusader who knocked on mayor's door with horrific props is arrested for attempted kidnapping
A Memphis man has been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping after approaching the home of Mayor Paul Young armed with a Taser, rope, duct tape and gloves.
Trenton Abston, 25, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking and aggravated criminal trespass following the incident at Mayor Young's residence.
According to investigators, Abston scaled a 10-foot wall in the mayor's gated neighborhood late Sunday evening and knocked on the front door while visibly carrying a concealed object in his hoodie pocket.
Young, who was inside with his wife and children, did not answer the door.
'Paul Young reported that he did not know the male and his presence at his door at a late hour wearing a hoodie and gloves put him, his wife and children in fear for their safety,' a criminal complaint filed Wednesday stated.
Public and private security cameras captured clear footage of the suspect's face, which helped police 'identify, locate and arrest the suspect,' the Memphis Police Department wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.
On Tuesday, police identified Abston as a person of interest. His work manager later confirmed his identity in surveillance footage from Sunday night.
After his arrest, Abston consented to a search of his vehicle, where the items in question were recovered, The New York Times reported.
Police said Abston also knocked on the doors of several other homes that night, raising concern throughout the neighborhood.
According to the criminal complaint, Abston told investigators he intended to confront Mayor Young 'about crime in the city of Memphis.'
He also said he had researched Young's address and had driven past the residence several times to confirm it.
'Abston took substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping,' the complaint concluded.
The Memphis Police Department described the incident as 'an escalating threat to a public official' and underscored the seriousness of the charges.
'We understand the concerns raised by this incident and want to reassure the public that the Memphis Police Department remains fully committed to the safety of all residents, including our city's elected officials,' the department's statement said.
'We take any potential threat seriously and will continue to act swiftly and thoroughly.'
Abston is scheduled for a bail hearing on June 23, according to the Commercial Appeal.
Mayor Young, who was elected in 2023 and is serving his first term, has been outspoken about addressing violent crime in the city.
In a statement, he voiced concern over the increasingly dangerous overlap between online rhetoric and real-world violence, referencing the recent assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.
'In today's climate, especially after the tragic events in Minnesota and the threats my wife and I often receive online, none of us can be too careful,' Young wrote on Facebook.
'The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable.'
He voiced concern over the increasingly dangerous overlap between online rhetoric and real-world violence, referencing the recent assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband
He also urged Memphians to reject political extremism and embrace respectful civic dialogue.
'What starts as reckless words online can all too quickly become something much more dangerous,' he continued.
'The angry rhetoric, the hateful speech, and the heated threats create a culture where violence feels like a next step instead of a red line. We cannot allow that line to be crossed. Political violence and intimidation - whether threatened or enacted - simply cannot become our norm.'
'Memphis, we have to change how we talk to and about each other. Disagreement must never lead to violence. That cannot be our norm. Let's do better.'
