Latest news with #St.JohnsCountySheriff'sOffice
Toronto Sun
18-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Disturbing video captures alleged kidnapping attempt in Florida
A woman is pictured fighting off her attacker in a surveillance video released by police. Photo by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office / Facebook A shocking kidnapping attempt caught on video has led to the arrest of a man in Florida. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In the surveillance video released by police, the suspect is seen dragging a woman, while holding her in a chokehold, into a dark grey pickup truck in a parking lot in St. Augustine. The woman can be heard screaming for help. As the suspect opens the door of the truck and is about to shove the terrified woman inside, she is able to fight off her attacker and run out of the camera's view. The suspect is seen chasing after her before the video cuts off. While the incident happened on June 29, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) released the video of the frightening ordeal on Tuesday. Police said officers responded after a person who witnessed the incident called 911 at around 3:30 p.m. 'Deputies learned the male suspect committed a robbery inside the business, then forcefully removed a female employee from the store, and dragged her outside where he began to push her into his vehicle,' police said in a Facebook post. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ On Sunday, June 29, 2025, at approximately 3:30pm, deputies were dispatched to a business at 1054 SR 206 East. A 911 caller advised a male subject was attempting to force a female inside a vehicle outside in the parking lot. Deputies learned the male suspect committed a robbery inside the business, then forcefully removed a female employee from the store, and dragged her outside where he began to push her into his vehicle. The victim fought her attacker and attracted the attention of a nearby citizen who came to her aid and called SJSO as the suspect abandoned his kidnapping attempt and fled. Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers (MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife) located the suspect driving recklessly near Marineland on A1A. The defendant fled from FWC but was subsequently captured. Theodore Michael Tundidor (31) was charged by SJSO detectives with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. FWC added additional charges for driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. The victim in this situation did everything right โ scream/yell, fight, attract attention. ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐ช๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ (๐ช๐๐ฉ๐) ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐: โ Observe and be aware of surroundings and people โ Know your 'Danger Zone', the distance between people that can jeopardize personal safety โ Trust your instincts and life experiences. If you think something is wrong, it usually is. โ Get away / Create distance โ Prepare for worst case scenario -mental rehearsal โ learn from examples (like this incident) โ Attitude, mental commitment, and preparation are keys to success WAVE is a SJSO initiative led by women law enforcement officers to educate women on threat awareness combined with basic self-defense techniques to respond to potential threats. To learn more visit: Posted by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 'The victim fought her attacker and attracted the attention of a nearby citizen who came to her aid and called SJSO as the suspect abandoned his kidnapping attempt and fled.' Police said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) officers located the suspect 'driving recklessly near Marineland' on State Road A1A. He allegedly fled, but was subsequently captured, police said. Theodore Michael Tundidor, 31, has been charged with with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. The FWC have added additional charges for driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. Read More MMA Toronto & GTA Tennis Celebrity Sunshine Girls
News18
17-07-2025
- News18
Man Tries To Abduct Florida Woman In Broad Daylight, Then Suddenly Flees
Last Updated: The man was arrested and charged with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. A terrifying incident caught on camera in Florida has left many shocked, as disturbing footage shows a man attempting to drag a woman towards his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The suspect, later identified as Theodore Michael Tundidor, is seen forcibly pulling the woman in broad daylight. According to the surveillance video, released by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, the incident took place at around 3:30 pm local time on June 29 outside a retail store. The woman, who has not been identified, can be seen screaming for help as her would-be kidnapper tries to abduct her. After struggling for some time, the woman receives help from a bystander who calls 911 for police intervention. However, as soon as the suspect realises that he could be arrested for the incident, he flees the scene within moments. The Post states that the man was arrested and charged with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. He allegedly attempted to commit a robbery at the St Augustine retail store, before forcing a female employee outside and dragging her towards his pickup truck. The woman did not give up and continued crying and shouting in the hope of getting assistance from passers-by. As per police, 'The victim in this situation did everything right โ scream/yell, fight, attract attention." Realising the consequences of the 911 call, the suspect managed to flee the scene before the St. Johns County Sheriff's team arrived. However, his pickup truck was spotted by officers while he was driving recklessly on Route A1A. The Florida Fish and Wildlife officers took Theodore into custody in the case. However, it was not easy, and the sheriff's office recalled arresting him after a high-speed chase. The Florida Fish and Wildlife added additional charges against Theodore, claiming that he attempted to evade law enforcement and was driving under the influence. Further details on the investigation are still awaited. The woman has been praised for her quick thinking and response during the attempted kidnapping. Authorities commended her for acting swiftly and attracting the attention of a bystander who ultimately helped her. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New York Post
16-07-2025
- New York Post
Creep spotted trying to drag woman into pickup truck, but quick thinking sends him fleeing
A Florida woman frantically fought off a creep who tried to drag her into his pickup truck after allegedly pulling off a heist โ with the bone-chilling scuffle caught on newly released surveillance video. The drama unfounded about 3:30 p.m. on June 29 outside a St. Augustine retail store, where accused would-be kidnapper Theodore Michael Tundidor, 31, is seen choking the screaming woman and pulling her toward his Toyota Tacoma truck, footage released by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office shows. 4 Shocking video shows a robber dragging a woman to his pickup truck in St. Augustine on June 29, police said. St. Johns County Sheriff's Office 4 The unidentified woman screams for help as her assailant tries to drag her into his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. St. Johns County Sheriff's Office 4 The woman breaks free and is helped by a bystander, who then calls 911 as the goon flees the scene. St. Johns County Sheriff's Office The intended victim, who was not identified, is seen yelling for help as her assailant drags her to his truck, where the woman pushes back and is able to finally break free and run away. The sheriff's office said a bystander saw the foiled abduction and came to the woman's aid, then called 911, forcing the thug to hop into the truck and take off. Officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife later spotted the pickup truck 'driving recklessly' on Route A1A, with Tundidor taken into custody after a high-speed chase, the sheriff's office said. 4 Theodore Michael Tundidor, 31, was charged with kidnapping, robbery and grand theft auto in the incident. St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Tundidor allegedly robbed a business at the scene and forced the woman into the parking lot, authorities said. He was charged with kidnapping, robbery and grand theft auto, authorities said. 'The victim in this situation did everything right โ scream/yell, fight, attract attention,' police said. According to the department's Women Against Violent Encounters instructors, potential victims should always be aware of their surroundings, know your 'danger zone' where strangers can be a threat, and always trust your instincts and experience. 'Attitude, mental commitment and preparation are keys to success,' the sheriff's office said.
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Fake tutor tries to meet child for sex acts, feds say. Florida cops were waiting
A man accused of posing as a tutor in a local Facebook group found Florida deputies waiting for him when he tried to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex acts, court documents say. Now, Kevin Patrick Wilson, 39, of Ponte Vedra, will spend the next decade in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. His court-appointed defense attorney did not immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment July 15. Wilson was arrested by St. Johns County sheriff's deputies the evening of July 24, 2024, after prosecutors said he had been communicating with someone he believed was the guardian of the 12-year-old girl. It was actually an undercover detective pretending to be the caregiver for the child, who was a decoy, according to prosecutors. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and the FBI began investigating Wilson in response to a tip from a woman that came in four days before his arrest, according to prosecutors. On July 20, 2024, Wilson responded to a Facebook post shared by the woman in a 'St. Augustine Jobs' group, court documents say. In her post, the woman wrote she was looking for a math and writing tutor for a child in sixth grade, court documents say. Wilson commented under her post, but pretended to be his wife and wrote, 'Hi please text my husband Kevin on his cell phone numberโฆ,' according to prosecutors. When the woman texted the phone number Wilson provided, she told Wilson she needed a tutor for an 11-year-old, prosecutors wrote in court filings. Then, Wilson 'sent a photo of himself and asked for a photo of the child,' prosecutors said. The woman stopped texting Wilson afterward and informed the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office of their conversation, according to prosecutors. The sheriff's office set up a sting operation that involved an undercover detective texting Wilson a few days later, pretending to be the guardian of a 12-year-old girl, prosecutors said. After the detective asked Wilson about tutoring services for the fake child, Wilson 'began discussing sexual topics involving the purported 12-year-old,' court documents say. Wilson talked about 'meeting the 'child' to perform sexual acts,' prosecutors said. At certain points, Wilson was under the impression that he was texting and speaking with the girl directly, but he was communicating with additional undercover detectives instead, according to prosecutors. Wilson then tried luring the 12-year-old girl into sex acts by arranging a meeting with the detective posing as her guardian on July 24, 2024, prosecutors said. 'Wilson traveled to the predetermined meeting location and was arrested,' prosecutors said. On March 12, Wilson pleaded guilty to attempted enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on July 10, court records show. Days after his arrest, Wilson's neighbor, Kathy Bargar, told Action News Jax that she was shocked to learn he was taken into custody, she told Action News Jax. 'You never know who's living next door to you,' Bargar said in an interview with the TV station. 'It's devastating, I can't believe it,' she added. Concerns or suspicions about child sexual exploitation can be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline online or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Woman reported missing in St. Johns County
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is looking for a woman who has been reported missing. Marite Leitane, 76, was last seen Sunday night. She went out for a bike ride and never returned, the sheriff's office said Monday morning. 'Leitane left behind her cell phone, debit card, and didn't take a water bottle with her,' a sheriff's office social media post states. 'She does not speak English.' Leitane was last seen wearing a pink shirt and black leggings. She was riding a white European race bike that has blue lettering. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call St. Johns County Sheriff's Office at (904) 824-8304, or email crimetips@ >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
