PROVIDENCE – A knife-wielding man allegedly forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s West Greenwich, R.I., home and held her and two other women captive, one of whom he sexually assaulted, authorities said.
Scott Fratus, 51, was arrested Friday and arraigned in Kent County District Court in Warwick on Monday on several charges, including first-degree sexual assault, domestic breaking and entering, domestic felony assault, domestic stalking, and three counts of kidnapping, among others, according to the West Greenwich Police Department.
Fratus was held without bail, court records show.
In a statement, police said a man – later identified as Fratus – called authorities at 3 p.m. on Friday and said he was holding people against their will, but did not say where.
“Officers replayed the call and were able to identify the unknown male caller,” police said. “They made contact with a female resident where the male used to live; she was the caller’s 51-year-old ex-girlfriend and resident of the location. She confirmed the caller was Scott Fratus and he had a knife.”
Police responded to the home and found the woman and arrested Fratus, who was unarmed at the time, according to authorities.
Investigators learned Fratus and the woman had recently broken up, and on Thursday night, Fratus “waited in the woods all night” outside her home “until she exited in the morning to let the dog out,” police said.
“He then walked up to her with the knife, and forced his way into the house,” officials said. “Fratus then zip tied and duct taped a 26-year-old female and a 23-year-old female that were in the residence.”
Fratus allegedly had the women text their employers to tell them they would not be showing up to work, and then took away their phones, police said.
“At one point, he struck one of the girls with a bat as she tried to resist being tied up,” police said.
“He held the victims against their will for the day, while sometimes armed with a knife, wearing latex and workman-style gloves,” police added. “Fratus stated to officers that he and the victim had consensual intercourse, which she stated was coerced.”
Fratus was also charged with disorderly conduct and three counts of failure to relinquish the phone/obstruction of 911.
A status conference in his case is set for May 27.
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