A heart-stopping moment was captured on surveillance video in St. Augustine, Florida, when a woman narrowly escaped a violent abduction attempt in broad daylight. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office released the shocking footage on Tuesday, July 15, as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident that occurred weeks earlier.
The 30-second video, shared on the sheriff’s official Facebook page, shows a man violently dragging a woman by the neck across a parking lot, attempting to shove her into the passenger side of a white pickup truck. As she screams for help and fights desperately, the man briefly manages to open the door and begin forcing her inside.
But the woman refuses to give in. Continuing to resist and cry out, she eventually breaks free from her attacker’s grip and bolts away. The video ends with the man giving chase on foot, moments before authorities say he fled the scene altogether.
⚠️ Warning: The video contains graphic and disturbing content.
Abduction Attempt Followed Robbery Inside Store, Deputies Say
According to a statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO), deputies were dispatched to the scene around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, after a 911 caller reported that a man had tried to force a woman into a vehicle in the parking lot of a local business.
An investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly robbed the business before forcibly removing the female employee from inside the store and dragging her outside toward his truck.
“The male suspect committed a robbery inside the business, then forcefully removed a female employee from the store and dragged her outside, where he began to push her into his vehicle,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook.
Fortunately, the woman’s screams caught the attention of a bystander, who quickly intervened and called 911. The suspect, realizing he was being witnessed, abandoned the kidnapping attempt and fled the scene.
Suspect Apprehended After Fleeing in Stolen Vehicle
The alleged attacker, identified as Theodore Michael Tundidor, 31, didn’t get far. According to officials, he was spotted a short time later driving erratically near Marineland Dolphin Adventure on State Road A1A. Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) intercepted and took him into custody.
Tundidor is now facing multiple felony charges, including:
Kidnapping
Robbery
Grand theft auto
Driving under the influence (DUI)
Fleeing and eluding law enforcement
As of this writing, it remains unclear whether Tundidor has entered a plea or secured legal representation.
Sheriff’s Office Praises Victim’s Quick Thinking and Bravery
In its statement, the sheriff’s office commended the woman for her courageous and decisive actions during the ordeal, saying she did “everything right.”
“The victim in this situation did everything right — scream/yell, fight, attract attention,” the statement read. “That ultimately saved her life.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and encourage anyone with additional information to contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.