ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Charges for a man who was accused of trying to kidnap a woman outside of a St. Augustine business have been suspended after he was found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Michael Tundidor was arrested after he was seen on video trying to force a woman into a pickup truck outside a smoke shop in June. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office later sat down with the victim, who was 18 at the time, allowing her to share her side of the traumatic event.
Tundidor was evaluated by a doctor who determined he is incompetent, and Judge R. Lee Smith ruled his diagnosed mental illness “interferes with sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and has no rational or factual understanding of the proceedings against him.”
Judge Smith determined that there is a “substantial likelihood” that he would be a danger to himself or others without treatment, and Tundidor was involuntarily committed to a mental health treatment facility run by the Department of Children and Families.
It’s possible the charges will be reinstated if Tundidor is later found to be competent.
But Tundidor won’t be discharged or released from DCF commitment without a court order.
SJSO said around 3:30 p.m. on June 29, they were dispatched to a business on State Road 206 East after a 911 caller reported that a man was attempting to force a woman into a vehicle in the parking lot.
Deputies said they later learned the man had committed a robbery inside the business, 206 Smoke Shop.
Investigators said Tundidor walked behind the counter against the victim’s wishes and began stealing merchandise. The victim initially attempted to intervene by blocking his attempt to exit the store with a jar of THCa cigarettes and a vape with an estimated cost of approximately $270, according to an arrest report.
Surveillance video shows the man forcefully removing the female employee from the store, dragging her outside and pushing her into the pickup truck.
Deputies said the woman was able to fight the attacker and attract the attention of a nearby citizen who came to help her and called SJSO as the man left in his truck, which was stolen from a Jacksonville dealership.
According to SJSO, Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers (MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife) located Tundidor driving recklessly near Marineland on A1A. Deputies said he fled from FWC but was later arrested.
Tundidor was charged by SJSO detectives with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. FWC added additional charges for driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.