A dramatic surveillance video has
captured
the moment a woman was nearly kidnapped in St. Augustine, Florida — an attack that ended with the suspect behind bars and facing multiple felony charges.
The incident occurred on June 29 outside a business around 3:30 p.m., according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO). Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a man trying to force a woman into a vehicle in the parking lot.
Footage released by SJSO shows the
suspect
, identified as 31-year-old Theodore Michael Tundidor, dragging the woman toward his gray pickup truck while holding her in a headlock. Once at the truck, he opened the door and tried to shove her inside.
The woman can be heard screaming for help as she resists the assault. Eventually, she breaks free and runs, prompting the suspect to flee. A nearby witness who saw the struggle intervened and contacted authorities.
Investigators later determined that the woman was an employee of the business that Tundidor had just robbed. The sheriff’s office said the victim’s resistance — and the quick actions of a bystander — likely prevented the kidnapping.
State Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission
(FWC) officers later spotted Tundidor driving erratically on A1A near Marineland. After a brief attempt to evade capture, he was arrested.
Tundidor is now facing several charges, including kidnapping, robbery, grand theft auto, DUI, and fleeing law enforcement.
Authorities commended the victim’s bravery and the bystander’s timely response, crediting both with helping bring the situation under control before it escalated further.
