Police: Woman kidnapped by estranged husband, found at CDA casino

A woman approached security at the Coeur d’Alene Casino late Tuesday afternoon, telling them she had been kidnapped from Spokane.

The woman told casino security that her abductor and estranged husband, Andrey Yermola, 21, was in the casino.

The woman told deputies she had been separated from Yermola for six months. Earlier on Tuesday, he asked if they could meet up. She obliged and when she got into his car, he drove off. The woman said she asked Yermola to let her out of the car, but he refused.

The woman said at some point, Yermola stopped the car and threw out a pistol that he had with him, then continued driving to the casino.

When the pair arrived at the casino, Yermola left the woman in the car and went inside. That’s when the woman got out of the car and contacted security.

Kootenai County deputies were called out to the casino to help with the arrest. They found Yermola inside and he was arrested.

Yermola refused to speak with deputies regarding the incident and he was booked into the Kootenai County Jail. He was booked on charges of 2nd Degree kidnapping, possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of a firearm.

A Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office K-9 found the pistol that Yermola threw out of the car. It was listed as stolen from Spokane.