Victim Of Attempted Kidnapping Caught On Video ‘Did Everything Right’, Sheriff’s Office Says

The victim of a recent kidnapping attempt in Florida “did everything right” by screaming, fighting, and drawing the attention of bystander who called 911, authorities said.

The attempted kidnapping took place in St. Augustine on the afternoon of June 29, and was captured on surveillance video that was shared Tuesday by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched to a strip mall at 1054 SR 206 East at around 3:30 p.m. on June 29 after a 911 caller reported that a man was trying to force a woman into his vehicle in the parking lot. Deputies arrived to find that the suspect had robbed a business in the strip mall, and that the woman was an employee of the business.

The disturbing surveillance video shows the suspect dragging the woman in a chokehold toward a pickup truck and attempting to shover inside. All the while, the woman repeatedly shouts for help, while trying to fight back. She screams louder and more frantically as he tries to push her into the truck.

The woman escapes the suspect’s grip and runs out of frame, still screaming, as the suspect chases after her.

A person nearby was alerted by her screams and called 911, but the suspect had abandoned his kidnapping attempt and fled the scene by the time deputies arrived.

The sheriff’s office said officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) later spotted the suspect driving recklessly near Marineland on State Road A1A. The suspect fled, but was later captured.

Theodore Michael Tundidor, 31, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, robbery, and grand theft auto. The sheriff’s office said FWC added charges of driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.

The sheriff’s office said the victim in this case “did everything right” by screaming, fighting, and attracting attention. The agency’s Women Against Violent Encounters (WAVE) program, led by women law enforcement officers, educates women on threat awareness and basic self-defense techniques.

The agency’s WAVE instructors advise women to observe and be aware of their surroundings, including knowing their “danger zone,” or “the distance between people that can jeopardize personal safety.” Instructors advise women to trust their instincts, because when something feels wrong it often is, and to get away and create distance if possible.

“Prepare for worst case scenario — mental rehearsal — learn from examples (like this incident),” the sheriff’s office said. “Attitude, mental commitment, and preparation are keys to success.”