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Police say after 67-year-old Danny Phelps was hit by a woman’s vehicle while on his bike, he pulled out a knife and told her to take him to an unknown location.
LAKE CITY, Fla. — A Lake City crash on Thursday led to the arrest of a man on kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges, the police department said Tuesday.
Danny Phelps, 67, also faces a tampering with a witness charge, according to police.
On Thursday, Jan. 30 at 12:55 p.m., officers responded to Baya Pharmacy, located at 1465 West US Hwy 90, after reports of a kidnapping.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with a woman, who is an employee of the pharmacy, stating that while traveling south on Northwest Ridgewood Avenue at the intersection of West US Hwy 90, she saw a bicyclist in the crosswalk who was attempting to cross the street.
“After making eye contact with the cyclist, he (Phelps) motioned for the driver to proceed,” the release states. “As the vehicle moved forward, the cyclist suddenly moved in front of the vehicle and was struck.”
The release then states the woman exited her vehicle to check on Phelps, and attempted to report the incident to police by using her cellphone. As she approached Phelps, he slapped the phone from her hand and “threatened violence” if law enforcement was contacted, according to the release.
Police said Phelps then demanded that the woman return to the driver’s seat, as he placed his bike in the back of the woman’s vehicle.
“He (Phelps) entered the passenger seat, brandished a knife, and ordered the driver to take him to a specific location,” the release states. “After reaching the location, the cyclist exited the vehicle, and the driver returned to Baya Pharmacy to report the incident.”
Phelps was later located by police, arrested and taken into custody at the Columbia County Detention Center.
