Police release major update after viral video shows screaming woman being pulled from doorway
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A woman captured on surveillance footage, appearing to be forcibly taken by a man outside a Wichita residence on Sunday, has reached out to the police, as confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities reported that around 3 p.m., they received a call from a woman identifying herself as the person depicted in the video.

“Investigators promptly proceeded to her location, made contact, and escorted her to City Hall for detectives to conduct a comprehensive interview,” stated the Wichita Police Department in an official release.

The department revealed that the woman is a 35-year-old local from the neighborhood where the incident was recorded early Sunday morning, specifically in the 1400 block of North Volusia.

Alleged abduction caught on video

Surveillance footage released by the Wichita police illustrates a woman being dragged away from a doorway while crying out for help during the early hours of Sunday in the 1400 block of North Volusia. (Wichita Police Department)

“At this stage of the investigation, we believe this incident is a case of domestic violence where the female was victimized by her boyfriend,” police said. “The female does not have any significant injuries.”

Detectives are continuing to conduct interviews, and the department said the case will be presented to the appropriate attorney’s office for formal charging consideration.

Police thanked the public for helping to spread the video and still images that drew widespread attention on social media and news outlets.

“We do believe it led the female to call us saying she was the person we were looking for,” the statement read. 

As police had emphasized earlier in the day, investigators do not believe there is any ongoing danger to the public.

“As we stressed this morning, we do not have any reason to believe there is ongoing danger to the general public,” the department said.

The 20-second Ring doorbell video, recorded around 2 a.m. Sunday, showed a woman appearing to resist as a man pulled her out of frame in a north Wichita neighborhood. 

Ring camera footage of alleged abduction

Wichita police asked for the public’s help identifying a woman seen in this video. (Wichita Police Department)

The clip prompted an urgent police plea for help identifying the individuals, leading to dozens of tips. Investigators canvassed the area for witnesses and additional footage, reviewed license plate reader data, and checked recent disturbance and missing-person reports before the woman came forward.

Before Tuesday’s update, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses told Fox News Digital the video had given investigators “a strong starting point” as they worked to locate the woman and verify her safety.

“The challenge is, this is the only piece of evidence that we have at this time,” Moses said during the interview. 

“We think someone out there does recognize her. And that’s why we shared the video again today,” Moses said. 

WATCH: Wichita police investigate possible abduction caught on camera

Moses stressed that there is no indication the case is connected to organized crime or a broader pattern.

“We don’t have any information to lead us to believe that this is related to the cartel. We don’t have any information to lead us to believe that this is part of a larger pattern at this point,” he continued. 

When asked whether the incident could be a hoax or prank, Moses said the department was treating it as legitimate until proven otherwise.

“We have to treat everything as though it’s real until we can verify otherwise,” he said. “At this point we cannot verify if this is a hoax or anything else, so we are operating under the assumption that this is a legitimate incident.”

Police reviewed all missing-persons reports filed since Oct. 1. They believe the event is likely isolated and does not pose a broader public safety risk.

“We haven’t received any additional reports of suspicious activity in that area,” Moses said. “We don’t believe there is a danger to the general public.”

Side of Wichita, Kansas police car

Crime Stoppers offered a $2,000 reward as investigators worked to verify a woman’s safety after a north Wichita incident.  (Wichita Police Department)

As public interest in the case surged, Wichita police had to confront a wave of misinformation spreading online. Social media users circulated what appeared to be artificial intelligence-generated “enhancements” of the video, claiming to reveal faces or clearer details.

Moses cautioned that these images are not authentic and could harm the investigation.

“The use of artificial intelligence for this type of an investigation does have the ability to complicate our investigation,” he said. “It can generate erroneous tips and information that’s not verified by a human being.”

He urged the public to only share content released directly by the Wichita Police Department. Verified updates, he said, are always posted on the department’s official social media channels.

“Anything that comes from another source has not been verified, and we cannot confirm the accuracy or the validity of that information,” Moses warned.

Police said detectives are continuing to gather evidence and interview those involved. The case will be referred to prosecutors for review.

“We are grateful for the community’s help and the attention this case received,” the department said. “Our priority remains transparency and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

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