Colorado Springs couple arrested after allegedly kidnapping ex-roommate, holding her at gunpoint

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says they have two people, after allegedly kidnapping a former roommate of theirs, and keeping them in their car against their will for nearly 40 minutes

Police say they got a call about the alleged kidnapping in the early hours of Monday, April 14.

The victim told police she was kidnapped by her old roommates, Damond and Susan Birky, after the husband arrived at an address on North Roosevelt Street, to drop off property that she left at their apartment.

When Damond arrived, the victim told detectives that Susan and another unknown woman were in the backseat, which made her feel uncomfortable, sensing something may have been off.

She said she then went to get out of the passenger seat, and Damond then threatened to shoot her with a gun that was lying in his lap.

Over the course of the next 30 to 40 minutes, the victim explains that the Birky's and the third woman, drove her in the eastern portion of Colorado Springs. The victims says she was threatened by the two women in the backseat, and was also hit with objects, and had ringing in one of her ears, along with pain in her left shoulder, arm and her back.

Detectives reported seeing visible bruising on her left shoulder.

The victim then told police that the unknown woman took her glasses, phone, purse, and vape, believing her glasses were broken in the process.

Eventually, the victim says Damond was going to allow her to get out of the car, and fired a shot from the gun he had out the window. Then upon reaching the intersection of Marksheffel Road and Highway 24, they let her out, before pulling back next to her, to have her unlock her phone they took.

From there, just before 4 a.m., the victim said she then ran to a nearby Circle K gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Highway 24 and Highway 94. Employees at the store said that the woman appeared to be in major distress and needed help calling 911.

Later that day CSPD was granted arrest warrants for both Susan and Damond Birky, after finding the vehicle that the victim described to them in great detail, and informing them of the Birky's address.

Inside the vehicle, a white Ford Fusion tinted windows and temporary tags, detective found a spent shell casing, an eyeglass lens, and a black wallet.

Arrest documents for Damond show he was handed charges for 2nd Degree Kidnapping and Menacing, both felonies, and Prohibited Use of Weapons, a misdemeanor.

Damond remains in El Paso County Jail on a $50,000 bond, however records show Susan Birky posted her $25,000 bond.

Susan spoke with KRDO13 over the phone after multiple attempts to reach out to her. She claimed that the victim was "crying wolf" and exaggerated or lied about many of the claims within the arrest affidavit for her husband.

Susan stated that the victim was never once threatened directly with a gun, and could have left the vehicle at any point during the drive. She did concede that a weapon was present in the car, and that Damond did in fact fire off a round, which she claimed surprised her and the other woman in the backseat.

She also said that she never touched the victim or made threats to her, however the unknown woman did hit the victim twice for lying about something they were discussing.

She added that the victim had stolen and damaged property while living with she and her husband for several months. Susan explained that the purpose of the car ride was to have the victim 'make things right' and own up to her actions.

Susan stated she will be getting a lawyer to fight the charges.

KRDO13 has not been able to contact the victim in question at this time.

CSPD stated that they had no comment on the claims made by Mrs. Birky, only reaffirming that they were granted warrants for arrest based on the evidence they gathered on Monday, and stated that the courts and the prosecutors of the 4th Judicial District will handle the case from here.