A Florida man was arrested and charged with kidnapping and other charges after he was caught on video trying to abduct a clerk at a St. Augustine business last last month.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said that a 911 caller alerted them to the situation after seeing the suspect trying to force a woman into a vehicle in the store’s parking lot.
The clerk spoke with WFLA and told them what happened. Emma Marine, 18, told the station that Theodore Tundidor, 31, came into the store and looked around, then left and returned about 90 minutes later.
At that point, she said, Tundidor began grabbing things off shelves, going behind the counter, and putting merchandise in his pockets. When he tried to leave, Marine blocked him.
“He said, ‘what are you gonna do about it?’ And then I sort of froze up a little bit,” said Marine.
Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office shows what happened next, as CrimeOnline reported. The man identified as Tundidor is seen pushing the young woman out the door and dragging her to his truck in the parking lot. Marine can be heard screaming and seen fighting back.
She breaks free of his grip and runs away, with Tundidor chasing behind her.
A witness intervened and called 911, prompting Tundidor to abandon his pursuit and flee the scene.
“I am beyond thankful to her for being in that area and being able to get help that fast for me,” Emma said. “I hope this can show other women and young females like myself that you can fight back and that it doesn’t matter how small you are.”
The sheriff’s office said that Florida Fish and Wildlife officers later spotted Tundidor driving recklesslessly near Marineland. He initially fled from the officers but was ultimately captured.
Tundidor was charged with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto by the sheriff’s office, while FWC charged him with driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding. The sheriff’s office did not provide details about the grand theft auto charge.
According to the St. Johns Citizen, Tundidor was on probation for a drunken episode at his mother’s home in Broward County last year that caused $38,000 in damage.
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[Featured image: Screenshot from surveillance video. Inset: Theodore Tundidor/St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office]
