Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday the arrest of Cody Lee Jackson in Plant City after a nine-day search for the kidnapping suspect started in Seffner.
The morning of May 9, HCSO said, Jackson was involved in a physical altercation with the victim at a residence in Seffner. Jackson struck the victim with a piece of wood, forced the victim into a vehicle and drove away, then stopped at one point to bind the victim’s wrists and ankles with extension cords. Jackson stopped at a gas station in Inverness and the victim was able to escape and ask for help. Jackson fled the scene when he learned the victim escaped and the vehicle was later found in Tampa at the intersection of U.S. 41 North and Sunset Lane.
On May 18, Plant City Police Department said, it got a call about a vehicle that was stolen at the Circle K at 2210 N. Park Road. Police saw a vehicle matching the description at the BP Gas Station at 2009 N. Wheeler St. and initiated a traffic stop. The suspect — Jackson — matched the description PCPD was given and was seen sitting in the vehicle with the door open. Upon seeing police, Jackson closed the door and attempted to flee but was stopped by another officer, who stopped their patrol car in front of the stolen vehicle.
Jackson exited the vehicle after several commands to do so and was detained without incident. The victim was able to identify the vehicle and said she did not know Jackson. An FCIC/NCIC check revealed one outstanding warrant out of Citrus County for false imprisonment and kidnapping and one out of Hillsborough for grand theft of a motor vehicle, false imprisonment and two counts of kidnapping to harm or terrorize. Jackson was also charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest without violence for the Plant City incident.
“Thanks to the outstanding teamwork with Plant City PD, superb attention to detail and unwavering dedication to bringing this man into custody, we can say that a dangerous individual is off the streets,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release. “Criminals do not follow jurisdictional boundaries, so partnerships with our neighboring agencies are essential to keeping our community safe.”