Coach arrested for whipping boy, taking photos


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PORTLAND -- Witnesses heard a boy screaming for help in a Northwest Portland building Sunday evening and led police to the apartment of a basketball coach, who was arrested on assault and kidnap accusations.

Police were dispatched just before 6 p.m. to the 911 report of someone holding a teenage boy against his will inside the apartment at 610 NW Davis Street.

When officers arrived, witness John Blair told them the boy had tried to run from an apartment, and then the suspect, 54-year-old Leslie Lewis, grabbed the boy by the neck and pulled him back in, according to court documents obtained by KGW.

Police knocked on the door of the unit and Lewis opened the door only slightly. But an officer could see a boy inside, nearly naked and trembling, the probable cause affidavit showed.

Lewis, 54, was arrested and detectives from the county child abuse team took over the investigation. The 13-year-old child was taken safely from the apartment. He did not suffer serious injuries.

Lewis faces several charges, including first-degree kidnapping, first-degree criminal mistreatment, using a child in display of sexually explicit content, and interfering with a making a police report.

The boy told investigators that Lewis whipped him with a belt and photographed him naked. He said he tried to escape, but Lewis put him in a headlock.

Blair told police he called 911 after finding the boy wearing only his underwear and ?screaming for his life.?

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