BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — An accused kidnapper has been extradited from Columbus, Ohio, to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center to face charges in Martin County.

Johnny Steven Kirk, 25, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly of Lovely, faces charges of kidnapping (causing serious injury) and second-degree assault stemming from a child abduction that occurred Nov. 6 in Lovely and left the 1-year-old child’s mother and grandmother injured.

When the incident occurred, a  statewide alert was issued across Kentucky saying Kirk had used a weapon to assault his 1-year-old son’s mother and grandmother before fleeing the scene with the child.

Kirk was apprehended at 6 a.m. Nov. 6 at a McDonald’s in Columbus. The child was unharmed and was returned to the custody of his mother.

Kirk was held in Ohio until his return Monday to Kentucky.