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Largo man accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend's toddler

 
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Check tampabay.com for the latest breaking news and developments.
Published June 15, 2018

A Largo man is facing kidnapping and attempted murder charges after authorities say he took his ex-girlfriend's 2-year-old child last weekend and rammed another man's car to get away.

Johnny A. Wise, 27, was arrested late Thursday on Williams Drive near Largo, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

At about 10 p.m. Sunday night, sheriff's deputies were called to 26-year-old Jasmine Golden's home on 125th Street N near Largo for a domestic disturbance.

Golden told deputies that Wise, whom she identified as her ex-boyfriend, became angry after an argument and broke several windows in her home. She also said he threatened to shoot her and kidnap her son, according to a news release.

Wise then grabbed the toddler and fled, the Sheriff's Office said.

Golden's stepfather, Raymond Golden, followed Wise in his pickup truck after witnessing the incident. As the stepfather pulled up to the intersection of 6th Street SW and 4th Avenue SW, Wise put his car in reverse and intentionally crashed into Golden's truck, causing "significant damages," deputies said.

Wise drove away from the scene and got out of his car with the toddler near the intersection of West Bay Drive and Ridge Road SW. Deputies attempted to track him by air and with the help of police dogs but were unsuccessful.

While hiding from deputies, Wise contacted a family member of the child and turned the toddler over unharmed.

Deputies found Wise around 9:30 Thursday. He was taken to the Pinellas County jail and charged with one count of kidnapping, attempted felony murder and criminal mischief and three counts of probation violation.