LAKE CITY, Fla. – A man accused of kidnapping a Lake City woman Tuesday and threatening to kill her because he believed she had stolen money from him was captured Thursday in Suwannee County and arrested, the Lake City Police Department said.
Antonio Marquez Dortly, 42, is charged with kidnapping, felony battery, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
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Police said a woman came to the Lake City Police Department Tuesday saying she had been kidnapped but had escaped.
The woman told police she had been taken by Dortly from a friend's house, where she had been hiding from him. She said that Dortly thought she had stolen money from him based on text messages he had sent her demanding it back.
When confronted, she was forced into Dortly’s vehicle and driven to several residences in an attempt to find the stolen money, police said. When it was not found, Dortly reportedly put a gun to the victim’s head as she got on her knees begging him not to kill her. According to the victim, Dortly threatened to “shoot her in the face,” after grabbing her by the neck and choking her.
After the attack, Dortly released the victim and sent her to find the stolen money, threatening her family if she did not return with it, police said. She fled instead to the Lake City Police Department.
Police obtained a warrant for Dortly and detectives with help from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement began tracking Dortly in an attempt to bring him in.
Dortly was found Thursday at a home in Houston, Suwannee County. He was believed to be armed and known to have a violent criminal history, police said, so LCPD detectives and FDLE agents surrounded the home while the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team made entry and detained Dortly.
“We are extremely grateful for the assistance from FDLE and the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office in locating Dortly,” said Lake City Police Chief Argatha Gilmore. “As a result of several days’ hard work by investigators, this dangerous man is in custody with no bond, bringing some measure of peace to the victim.”
Dortly was taken to the Suwannee County Jail, where he was booked without bond. He will be extradited to Columbia County to face charges.