MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A man sought by Wildwood police in the beating and kidnapping of a 60-year-old woman on Thursday was found Friday in Marion County where he barricaded himself overnight and was arrested the next morning, according to the sheriff’s office.
James Savage, 54, was initially accused of domestic battery and kidnapping, though the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that he’s since accumulated more charges.
Those new charges include aggravated assault on a first responder, weapons possession by a convicted felon and firing a gun into a building or vehicle, according to Marion County records.
Surveillance video shared by police Friday morning appears to show Savage punching Marivel Dunn the night prior, pulling her by her hair, slamming her to the ground and throwing her into his Mercedes-Benz in the 6000 block of Hall Place before driving away. Dunn was reportedly found safe later Friday as Savage barricaded himself in a home along SE 174th Belhaven Loop at the north end of The Villages that afternoon, the sheriff’s office said.
Marion and Sumter county deputies were on scene for the standoff, officials said. Savage surrendered around 10:30 a.m. Saturday and will be booked at the Marion County Jail regarding the charges he faces out of Wildwood, according to the sheriff’s office.
It’s been a long night for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and we cannot thank them enough for bringing this barricaded suspect, James Savage out without injury putting an end to this case that began 34+ hours ago.
Wildwood Police Department statement on Facebook | 11:29 a.m. March 16, 2024 (excerpt)
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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