A Columbus man was charged with kidnapping and felony eluding Wednesday after taking his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint and leading Columbus Police on a high speed chase throughout Southside.
CPD Public Information Officer Terrie Songer said Corlando Octavious Smith, 23, of 522 Ninth Ave. S., waited at his ex-girlfriend”s house until she returned home from dropping off her husband at work shortly after 6 a.m. The victim, whose name is being withheld, said Smith jumped into her vehicle and threatened her with a knife before telling her to drive to his house.
En route to Smith”s home, the victim begged to stop at the Shell Station at the 900 block of Main Street to use the bathroom. According to the police report, she called 911 from the bathroom, but was interrupted when Smith snatched open the door and dragged her out of the store, where he shoved her into a white Honda Accord and began hitting her.
Songer said three employees witnessed the scene. One followed them out of the gas station and attempted to intervene, but Smith sped away at speeds topping 60 mph, with police in pursuit.
“He had the driver”s side door open, and one of his legs was hanging out,” Songer said. “He went through numerous stop signs without stopping. We did not do anything crazy; we just kept him in our sights.”
Smith crashed into a light pole at 1104 Ninth St. S., snapping the light pole in half, Songer said. He then fled into the woods and was found hiding beneath an abandoned mobile home behind 723 Seventh St. S.
Smith was taken into custody and charged with numerous traffic violations in addition to kidnapping and felony eluding. Songer said bond is expected to be set later today.
The victim suffered minor injuries during the crash and was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, where she was treated and released.
Smith also faces charges of sale of cocaine and possession of marijuana.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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