INDIANAPOLIS -- Nick Arnold believes God led him in a moment of crisis to where he was needed most: The hideout of a fugitive wanted for imprisoning and raping a woman in his basement.
Arnold told RTV6's Mike Pelton that he and his wife were having a heated argument August 31 when she told him to get on his motorcycle and "go find God."
He wound up at Eagle Creek Park – a place he says he's never been – and started walking toward the reservoir when he saw an unusual sight.
"I see a man coming out of the water … he was in his underwear," Arnold said.
The two men struck up a short conversation, according to Arnold, but one long enough for Arnold to learn he was speaking to Maurice Nelson – who said he had just lost his house and his dog and had a warrant out for his arrest.
"I just shared my testimony and I shared the gospel of what Jesus does and the mercies and forgiveness that can come with it," Arnold said. "He just broke down and cried. He told me he was a criminal, but what I saw in that man was someone who needed the mercy of God."
Indianapolis police had been searching for Nelson since July 14, when a neighbor heard a woman screaming for help from the basement where he'd kept her imprisoned for four days.
Once freed, the woman told police a harrowing tale of how Nelson had allegedly beaten her and chained her to the floor, then raped her repeatedly.
While Nelson didn't mention any of the specifics of his warrant to Arnold, he did tell him he'd been hiding out in Eagle Creek for weeks. So Arnold took the man home and told him he could stay the night.
"We went out and told him he could stay here for one night, and that's when he told us he was going to turn himself in the next morning," Arnold said.
Nelson ate dinner with the Arnolds, and the next morning drove to the City-County Building with Arnold in tow and turned himself in.
Marion County Sheriff's Sgt. Eric Gundle said it was an unusual experience for him as well.
"Generally, a serious, violent felon – serious violent criminals – don't usually come turn themselves in," he said.
Arnold said God, not him, is to thank for the arrest.
"He was crying," Arnold said. "He was very remorseful and he just made the right decision to turn himself in."
