Maryland man arrested for domestic battery and kidnapping in Flagler County

BUNNELL, Florida — A Maryland man was arrested Thursday after allegedly attacking and kidnapping his girlfriend in Bunnell, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance on September 5 and found the victim at a nearby residence in distress with visible signs of assault. The victim, who had been dating Steven McSwain, 47, of Maryland for about a month, told deputies that an argument escalated when she asked McSwain to leave. Instead, McSwain allegedly grabbed her by the neck, choked her, and threw her to the ground.The victim reported that McSwain then dragged her to a bedroom, repeatedly banged her head on the floor, and held her against her will. He also allegedly took her phone and unplugged an at-home smart device when she tried to verbally ask it to call 911. After several attempts to escape through the door, the victim managed to flee to a bathroom, climb out a window, and run to safety to call the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.When deputies arrived at the scene, McSwain had already left. He was later found at a nearby Dollar General and arrested for domestic battery by strangulation, kidnapping, and tampering with a victim. McSwain was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is being held on a $75,000 bond."There's nowhere to run if you're a criminal in Flagler County, and our deputies didn't stop until this guy was checked in at the Green Roof Inn," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "We expect everyone to respect others, whether you're from out of state or call Flagler County home your whole life. We will never accept violent crime in Flagler County and have zero tolerance for domestic violence."The Flagler County Sheriff's Office urges anyone in a violent relationship to seek help by calling 386-313-4911 or the Family Life Center's Domestic Violence Crisis Helpline at 386-437-3505. Resources are available to help break the cycle of violence before it becomes deadly.