News

Actions

Wind restrictions help woman escape kidnapper

Posted at 1:02 PM, Oct 06, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-06 13:02:27-04

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel - A woman was able to escape from a kidnapping and assault suspect after police pulled the suspect's car over due to wind restrictions at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

On October 4, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a woman in Powelville, Maryland saying that her ex-boyfriend broke into her house and was kidnapping her.

Phillip Timmons (Photo: Virginia Beach PD)

Phillip Timmons (Photo: Virginia Beach PD)

When deputies came to the house, they saw that the door was forced open.  They cleared the house and found no one there.

Deputies found a gun box and ammunition  in the victim's bedroom, but the gun was missing.

The victim's cell phone, wallet and car were still at the house.

Investigators interviewed family members and found out that the woman and her ex-boyfriend, Phillip James Timmons, had a history of domestic assaults.

A protective order was issued so that Timmons could not come in contact with the woman.

Police put an order out to surrounding states to help find the victim, Timmons, and his 2001 Black Dodge Dakota.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Police told investigators that Timmons, the suspect, and his car were near the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge Tunnel.

According to Chesapeake Tunnel Police, the suspect tried to cross the bridge with two surfboards in the back of his truck.

The Tunnel Authority Road Crew removed the surfboards from the car due to wind restrictions and as the crews unloaded the surf boards, the woman jumped into the driver's seat of the truck and drove toward a police car.

Timmons jumped into the bed of the truck and tried to unlock the door through a broken car window.

When the victim found a police officer, she got out of the car and ran towards him, telling the officer that she had been kidnapped and Timmons was armed.

Tunnel police arrested Timmons after a brief struggle and took him into custody.  He had a gun on him at the time.

Timmons will have an arraignment for kidnapping, abduction and firearm related charges in November.