VIDEO: Woman does 'everything right,' breaks away from attempted kidnapping
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (WFLA) — A man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to kidnap an employee from a store he is accused of robbing, Florida authorities announced.
Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office responded around 3:30 p.m. to a business in St. Augustine on June 29 after a caller said a man was attempting to force a woman into a vehicle.
According to SJSO, deputies learned that Theodore Tundidor, 31, had committed an alleged robbery inside the business before forcefully removing the female employee from the store, and dragging her outside where he tried to push her into his vehicle.
Surveillance footage released by the sheriff's office showed the woman fighting off the attacker and screaming.
The victim gained the attention of a nearby person who came to her aid and called the sheriff's office as Tundidor abandoned the kidnapping attempt and fled the parking lot, SJSO said.
"The victim in this situation did everything right— scream/yell, fight, attract attention," the sheriff's office said in a post on Facebook.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife officers located Tundidor driving recklessly and fled from FWC, but was shortly captured.
Tundidor was charged by SJSO detectives with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. SJSO said FWC also added the additional charges of driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
SJSO Women Against Violent Encounters instructors have safety advice that includes:
- Observe and be aware of your surroundings and people
- Know your "Danger Zone," the distance between people that can jeopardize personal safety
- Trust your instincts and life experiences. If you think something is wrong, it usually is.
- Prepare for worst case scenario-mental rehearsal- learn from example
- Attitude, mental commitment, and preparation are keys to success
According to SJSO, Women Against Violent Encounters is an initiative led by women law enforcement officers to educate women on threat awareness combined with basic self-defense techniques. For more information on WAVE, visit their website.