- February 6, 2025
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A witness told authorities that a man armed with a black semi-automatic pistol tucked into the front waistband of his pants forced a woman into his vehicle before driving off, according to the Port Orange Police Department.
On Thursday, February 1, at approximately 5:55 p.m., Port Orange Police responded to the Spruce Creek Shell gas station, 5784 Taylor Branch Rd., for a report of a possible armed kidnapping.
An investigation revealed that a male and female arrived at the gas station together. However, the female removed several bags of items from the car and entered the store alone, while using her cell phone to arrange for an unknown person to come pick her up. The male she originally arrived with drove away, but then returned a few minutes later and yelled for her to get into the car.
The female refused and remained inside the store, but the male entered the store and forced the female outside. Once outside, the female began walking away from the male, but he grabbed her again and began dragging her toward the vehicle while the female was actively resisting him and screaming for him to let her go.
The male forced her into the vehicle and drove away from the scene with the female inside the car. A witness informed officers that the male had a black semi-automatic pistol tucked into the front waistband of his pants. Port Orange detectives responded to the scene and are actively working this investigation.
The vehicle is described as a white 2017 Toyota Camry with Florida tag #CTI-U25.
The male and female have been tentatively identified, but police are not releasing their names at this time. Efforts to obtain a positive identification and their current location are still ongoing, however. Anyone who can identify the male and female and advise where they are located is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Thomas Aiken at 386-527-5653.
Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477) or by texting tips along with “TIP231” CRIMES (274637). Citizens providing information could receive a reward up to $5,000.