A guy suspected of assaulting his then-girlfriend and throwing her into a vehicle in Sumter County has locked himself inside a residence in The Villages, Florida, sparking an hours-long standoff with police and law enforcement.
The suspect, James Savage, is accused of hitting and tackling his then-girlfriend, Marivel Dunn, 60, outside a residence late Thursday night before forcing her into a vehicle and driving away, according to the Wildwood Police Department. Dunn was discovered unharmed early Friday morning. Savage was discovered locked inside a residence in Wildwood, Florida, at the northern edge of The Villages. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the home is located on Southeast 174th Belhaven Loop.
Several law enforcement vehicles, including local police, sheriff’s office deputies, and the S.W.A.T. team, have been on the scene for hours. Around 3 p.m. Friday, a man described as Savage called the FOX 35 newsroom. During the 30-minute phone chat, which was often difficult to follow, Savage discussed a wide range of topics. FOX 35 quickly notified law enforcement.
The Alleged Kidnapping Was Caught on Home Surveillance, According to Police
The suspected kidnapping was captured on house surveillance video, which the police department later shared on its Facebook page. You can see it in the video player above. Warning: The video’s content may be unsettling to some viewers.
“Get in the car and shut up,” Savage is heard urging Dunn repeatedly. Savage, who drives a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S series with the Florida license plate MNMBENZ, allegedly fled the scene before law authorities arrived at the Wildwood property. The Mercedes-Benz was last seen driving into Marion County on U.S. 301, crossing County Road 102, around 10:23 p.m. on Thursday.
The Mercedes-Benz was found Friday morning, but Savage and Dunn were not in it, according to authorities.
Police noted at the time that they may have been in Dunn’s vehicle, a 2020 black BMW 330i with Florida plate CD60JE, or on foot. Police said Dunn and Savage were last known to be in a “domestic relationship” and had resided together in a few unspecified locations. They have ties to Sumter, Marion, and Palm Beach counties.
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