HCSO finds victim of alleged armed kidnapping safe; suspect arrested

The search is over for both an armed kidnapping victim and the suspect after authorities found the victim safe and arrested the suspect on Thursday.

Jayanna Clark, 25, was found safe after more than 18 hours of searching, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO).

Detectives found Clark in the 2200 block of 13th Street SW in Largo with Jahvontae Bell, 26, earlier Thursday.

Authorities said Clark and Bell were both seen exiting a shed on the side of a residence.

Clark was safe and unharmed. Bell was arrested at the scene and taken into custody without incident.

Bell is facing charges of armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and battery.

The initial call to deputies about a possible kidnapping came in around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Deputies went to the 5000 block of Bordeaux Village Place in Tampa, where they spoke to witnesses who said they saw two individuals force Clark into a black Nissan sedan.

Deputies said they have reason to believe Bell kidnapped Clark. The sheriff's office said he has an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Pinellas County for armed kidnapping for a separate incident.

On June 14, Clearwater Police officers responded to a location for a report of a missing adult.

Officers located Clark at her apartment complex the next morning and was unharmed. Clark said she was at work the previous evening.

She arranged to meet an acquaintance in the parking lot. While she was inside the vehicle, Bell, her ex-boyfriend, appeared and entered it.

Officers said Bell prevented her from leaving the car and a struggle ensued inside the vehicle. They left the parking lot and went to several locations.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Bell for one count of kidnapping and had been unable to locate him since the incident in June.

Court documents also stated Bell had been previously arrested for domestic battery in September of 2021. According to an arrest affidavit, Bell struck Clark numerous times and caused bruising during a verbal argument.

Records show he completed a court-ordered program, and the case was dismissed in 2022.

"We're ending up with more questions than answers"
I-Team Investigator Adam Walser explores why one Tampa Bay subdivision is still enforcing parking rules despite the new law which took effect on July 1st.

Latest Hillsborough County News from ABC Action News

• Vote-by-mail ballots now being sent to residents after accuracy test

  Lydia Vazquez

  5:33 PM, Jul 18, 2024

• HCSO finds victim of alleged armed kidnapping safe; suspect arrested

  Tim Kephart

  12:28 PM, Jul 18, 2024

• Former Florida detention deputy arrested on child pornography charges

  Tim Kephart

  10:31 AM, Jul 18, 2024

• Summer theater camp provides opportunity for kids to shine at The Straz

  Robert Boyd

  5:43 AM, Jul 18, 2024