Schenectady man accused of kidnapping, assault in September domestic incident

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A city man is accused of using his belt to choke a woman to unconsciousness, tying her hands and feet and threatening to make her eat boric acid, authorities said Thursday.

Ernest L. Burnett, 41, of Broadway, was arraigned Thursday morning on charges of second-degree kidnapping and second-degree assault, along with grand larceny and strangulation. All the charges are felonies.

If convicted on the kidnapping count alone, Burnett faces up to 25 years in prison.

Burnett is accused of kidnapping the woman about 9:30 a.m. Sept. 24 from Glenwood Boulevard, in what police described as a domestic incident. Police said Burnett bound the 42-year-old woman, choked her and held a box cutter to her throat.

He also is accused of threatening to make her eat the acid and kill her. He then took her from her home, placed her in the trunk of his vehicle and drove from her house, according to court papers. The woman, though was able to get loose, escape and call for police.

On the way to the car, while carrying the woman, Burnett also allegedly dropped her on her face, causing her pain and blurred vision and leading to the assault count. She was treated at Ellis Hospital and lost time from work.

In addition to the kidnapping, Burnett is accused of stealing her car, apparently the one he drove away in.

Burnett was arrested by city police officers, along with the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. It was unclear where Burnett was picked up.

Burnett was arraigned and ordered held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.