Alleged kidnapping victim recounts high speed chase
Harris accused of taking woman, 2 children; fleeing at high speed
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The woman who was kidnapped alongside her two children in September 2025 by a Virginia Beach man testified to fearing for her and her children's lives during the high speed chase that ultimately ended with his arrest.
The woman took the stand to detail the ordeal during the first day of the jury trial against Brandon Micheal Harris, 38, who is facing single felony counts of aggravated assault and fleeing police, two felony counts each of kidnapping a minor and endangering the welfare of children, a single misdemeanor count of obstructing the administration of law enforcement, six misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and seven summary traffic violations. He has been held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of $350,000 bail since Sept. 7, 2025.
Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mays called on the woman to testify, who said she was with Harris, a family member, visiting her father in Logan Township for Labor Day weekend.
Speaking through tears, the woman said Harris had returned to Virginia Beach only to appear with his brother Julian Harris unannounced on Sept. 6 at her father's residence, where she was now staying. In the intervening week, she said Harris "kept calling my phone and sending very threatening text messages."
The woman said she allowed Harris to visit with the kids, then 3 and 5 years old. When Harris was ready to leave, she brought them outside toward his vehicle to say goodbye. She said Harris pushed her 3-year-old child into the car and then tried to take her 5-year-old.
The woman said she fought Harris, causing them all to fall to the ground and injure the 5-year-old.
"I told him if he was going to take them, to at least take me with them," the woman said. "I didn't want my kids to be in an unsafe environment. I was scared."
When Mays asked the woman if Harris told her where he planned on taking them, she said he didn't say but made comments about Altoona being "weird" and "racist."
Mays asked the woman if Julian Harris was talking to his brother, to which the woman said he was also pleading with Brandon Harris to stop so they could at least buckle in the children.
The woman said Harris eventually returned her cellphone so she could navigate them to his sister's house after Julian Harris refused to do so, which is when she was able to text her father to call 911. When Harris noticed police cruisers behind them, the woman said he began pulling over to the right to see if they were the ones being followed, then sped off.
At one point, Harris swerved onto the grass berm along I-99 to avoid spike strips laid by state police to slow the vehicle and overcorrected back onto the roadway, which sent the vehicle into the grass berm on the opposite side. Harris was able to maneuver onto the interstate again, where he hit a police cruiser trying to block him, causing the vehicle's airbags to deploy. The woman said these events didn't deter him as Harris continued southbound.
While approaching the Osterberg exit, which is where the chase ultimately ended, the woman said Harris looked at Julian Harris and said "I think I'm going to need you to take the fall for this." After taking the exit, the vehicle came to a stop and police found Julian Harris in the driver's seat.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Scott Pletcher questioned the woman on why she didn't call 911 herself or why she didn't call her father instead of texting him. The woman said she had wanted to but was afraid Harris would take her phone back.
Mays then called Julian Harris to the stand, who said he had traveled from Virginia Beach to Altoona with Harris to see family. He said Harris had only talked about seeing the children and never mentioned taking them.
When asked why he agreed to switch seats with his brother, Julian Harris said "so he would pull over" and confirmed that he had never actually operated the vehicle during the chase.
Julian Harris was charged with a single felony count of conspiracy to flee police following the incident and remains free on $75,000 unsecured bail.
Testimony is expected to continue today at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom two of the Blair County Courthouse with Judge David B. Consiglio presiding.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.