A Florida man is facing charges after allegedly kidnapping a female driver at knifepoint following a minor traffic incident. The accused, 67-year-old Danny Keith Phelps, is being charged with kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and tampering with a witness, according to online court records.
The incident occurred last Thursday when police were called to a pharmacy in Lake City, approximately 60 miles west of Jacksonville. The call was in response to reports of false imprisonment and aggravated assault. Upon arrival, officers met with the victim, a pharmacy technician who was about to embark on her medication delivery rounds when the incident took place.
The victim recounted to the police that around 11:30 a.m., she was leaving the pharmacy in her car when she came across a man on a bicycle at a traffic light. Both she and the cyclist signaled each other to proceed, but as she started moving, the cyclist also moved into the intersection, resulting in a minor collision.
According to the arrest report, the woman exited her vehicle to check on the cyclist. As she attempted to call for help, the man allegedly knocked her phone out of her hand and threatened her, demanding a ride. Fearing for her safety, the woman complied, placing the man’s bicycle in her vehicle and driving him to his requested location.
The report further states that Phelps sat in the front passenger seat with an open pocketknife on his lap. Upon reaching the destination, he exited the vehicle, took his bicycle, and left. The woman then returned to the pharmacy and reported the incident to the police.
The following day, the pharmacy received a call from a man identifying himself as Danny Phelps, claiming he had been hit by one of their vehicles and demanding a replacement for his bicycle. The police were able to trace the callback number to an address, but Phelps was not located at that time.
Phelps later contacted the Lake City Police Department, reporting that he had been hit by a vehicle while cycling. During a subsequent interview with the police, Phelps admitted to demanding a ride from the driver, stating that his bicycle tire was damaged. He also claimed that he had asked the driver to return to his house later to discuss compensation for his damaged bicycle.
Phelps is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with a bond set at $150,000.