PORT ST. LUCIE — A 64-year-old man accused of trying to kidnap a 74-year-old woman with whom he’d had a romantic relationship was arrested May 31, according to Port St. Lucie Police on June 1.
Jose Tsu Zamora was jailed on charges of attempted kidnapping while armed with a firearm; battery on a person 65 years of age or older; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; aggravated stalking (violation of injunction); and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police stated.
“He has a significant violent criminal history to include past attempted kidnapping,” Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said in a June 1 afternoon briefing.
Zamora, a resident of North Miami, was apprehended May 31 by police and U.S. Marshals in Hialeah.
The case began about 10:49 a.m. May 31 as police investigated an incident at First United Methodist Church on Southwest Prima Vista Boulevard.
“The investigation revealed that Zamora, who previously had a romantic relationship with the victim, approached her in the church parking lot despite an active injunction prohibiting contact,” police stated. “According to the investigation, Zamora … attempted to force the victim into a vehicle against her will while armed with a handgun.”
Niemczyk said Zamora was familiar with the woman’s habits and knew she attended the church.
“He specifically came up here because he knew she’d be there and he approached her as she was getting out of her car to attend service,” Niemczyk said. “What I’m told is that he said if I can’t have you, nobody can, and either you’re going to be with me or you fill in the blank. We believe it was a very violent intention.”
Two good Samaritans confronted Zamora, telling him to let go of the woman, police stated.
“The courage that they displayed helped disarm a very dangerous escalating situation,” Niemczyk said. “Had it not been for these courageous citizens who stepped in and intervened, for sure this kidnapping would have been successful.”
During the confrontation, police stated, Zamora is accused of “displaying a firearm before retreating to his vehicle and fleeing the scene.”
Video surveillance depicted Zamora pursuing the 74-year-old woman in the parking lot, restraining her and trying to “force her toward a vehicle.”
Niemczyk said police are taking steps to start a domestic-violence unit in the agency’s criminal investigations division “to continually follow up on each and every incident.”
Further, he said the agency is increasing the size of its domestic victims advocates budget.
Zamora ultimately was taken into custody in Hialeah. Police used license plate readers as part of efforts to locate Zamora, according to Niemczyk.
Niemczyk said Zamora’s family turned over a pellet gun.
“It might make sense because he did have an injunction,” Niemczyk said. “He couldn’t have bought a firearm and he’s a convicted felon, so that’s still under investigation.”
Niemczyk said the woman “had every reason to believe it was real.”
Zamora was arrested in March in St. Lucie County on charges of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon and tampering with evidence, though the latter charge ultimately was dropped, according to St. Lucie County Clerk’s records.
The case is continuing through the court system, records show.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man in Florida jailed after reported attempted kidnapping at church
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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