Man accused of kidnapping woman at gunpoint held without bond

Daniel Cruz charged with kidnapping, burglary, aggravated assault, false imprisonment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 23-year-old man who became the subject of a manhunt after police said he kidnapped a woman at gunpoint over the weekend was found and arrested, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday night.

Daniel Cruz was charged with kidnapping, burglary, aggravated assault and false imprisonment.

At his first appearance in court on the charges, Cruz was ordered held without bond. His next court date was set for March 12.

READ | Man accused of abducting woman at gunpoint appears to Facebook Live as police search for him

Investigators were called to a home in Arlington on Sunday. Police said they learned a 21-year-old woman had been taken from the residence at gunpoint.

Police said a man forced his way into the home, dragged a woman out of the residence by her hair and took off. She was found safe later in the morning.

While police were looking for him, several viewers sent News4Jax a link to a Facebook Live video that appeared to feature Cruz. It was about an hour long.

During Thursday’s court appearance, News4Jax learned Cruz has an open burglary case in Clay County.

He is charged with five counts of burglary after police said he and two others broke into multiple storage units in Orange Park in October. Court records show he was ordered to appear this coming Monday.

A further look into his background showed another Clay County arrest for improper exhibition of a firearm and a couple more arrests in Duval County.


About the Authors

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.

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