A 30-year-old Palm Coast man with a long history of arrests is facing seven felony charges in Flagler County stemming from a Sunday night kidnapping of a Palm Coast woman and her children.
Major Harris III of 93 Redmill Drive in palm Coast has been booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail 12 times since 2002, though none yet in Flagler County. He was in the Volusia jail Tuesday, having been arrested in DeLand following the alleged kidnapping.
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The 35-year-old female victim told Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies that Harris kidnapped her and her two young children, 6 and 10, early Sunday morning after she attempted to break off a rocky relationship with the man.
The victim said that around 9 p.m. Saturday, Harris became angry over the break up. He grabbed the victim, throwing her down on the floor before pinning her down and pouring soda into her mouth until she choked. He then grabbed her by the throat and attempted to strangle her. She was able to get free of him and flee into a bedroom, but Harris stormed in with a handgun, pushed it into her eye and pulled the trigger, telling the victim, according to the police report, “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
Harris then pulled the trigger but the gun didn’t go off. “Major pulled back on the upper slide of the handgun ejecting the live round on the floor,” the report stated.
Harris told the victim he would kill her and her children, 6 and 10 years of age, if she tried to leave, the victim told deputies. He then forced the woman to have sexual intercourse.
Early Sunday morning, Harris took the victim and her children at gunpoint to Deland. The victim said that fearing for her life and that of her children, she reassured Harris throughout the day, that they could work things out and get back together.
At one point, she convinced Harris to let her go into a convenience store to get food for the children and headache medicine. Once inside the store, the victim called the Deland Police Department who arrived and were able to take Harris into custody. Deland Police arrested Harris on an outstanding warrant and a charged of carrying a concealed weapon.
Flagler County deputies have charged him with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, kidnapping, sexual battery, felony battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“This man could have wiped out an entire family in just a few seconds. The victim acted wisely in order to keep herself and her children from harm. I am grateful that law enforcement could intervene before a tragedy occurred,” said Sheriff Don Fleming.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be pending.
PC MAN says
Is there some sort of incentive for thugs to move to Palm Coast ? It’s not jobs. It has to be cheap rentals. Is there a special section 8 program for Flagler county homes ? Whatever it is I wish it would stop.
lawabidingcitizen says
PC man, take a ride along Rte 100 to Flagler Beach and just before the bridge, to the west of the new Publix are three brand new buildings catering to the disadvantaged. Go in and take a tour and see what your money is buying. Section 8 on steriods man!
SAW says
PC MAN, You you hit the nail on the head, no brain science here, hundreds if not thousands, of vacant homes, duplex’s, short term rentals, section eight housing etc. from the great boom era.
What we have here is just a very small glimpse of the social problems which often accompany such irresponsible growth. Buckle up, as social ills are now coming home to haunt our community, in what was not long ago known as the fasted growing county in the country.
Back then it was a simply motto, one which most of our elected officials all bought into, build baby build, house on top of house, many sitting on small lots, what did they expect would happen to all those homes when things got tough, as they have ?
Many of those builders made their quick money and have now left the state, the residents unfortunately are left behind to deal with all that goes with that abusive growth. Yes a few developers and others, made big money, but now the average resident must pay a heavy price in their quality of life.
Too bad the majority of our resident voters did not do their homework during this last election, if they had, they would have voted YES on # 4, for sensible growth at least for the future, but alas too late.
wsh302 says
all i can say is if you have a cw permit, carry it
STXgirl says
THROW OUT THE TRASH PLEASE
Flagler Citizen says
“Booked into the Volusia County jail 12 times since 2002!” I’m going to assume for crimes other than jaywalking and littering! Most people deserve a second chance but 12 of them before doing any significant jail time?