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Man Arrested After Woman Escapes Kidnapper Who Posed as Police Officer

Dashcam footage plus bystander help and a circulated suspect photo drove the investigation.

Overview

  • A woman says a man in a green Cadillac approached her while she was walking, claimed to be law enforcement, handcuffed her and put her in the back seat before she escaped on Friday.
  • The victim climbed into the front seat and fled through the driver's door when the suspect stepped away from the vehicle, then ran into traffic and flagged down a passing truck driver for help.
  • Anthony Moore, a truck driver and pastor, provided dashcam video showing the woman running handcuffed and helped remove the restraints while other motorists called 911.
  • Investigators determined the restraints were toy metal handcuffs, recovered reports that the suspect took the woman's phone, Social Security card and a recent graduation diploma, and released a photo seeking tips.
  • Authorities identified and arrested 39-year-old Jonathan Willard on one count each of kidnapping and impersonating a law enforcement officer and are holding him in the Aiken County Detention Center while the probe continues.