Deputies: Man who tried to kidnap girl in 2017 might be stalking women in Volusia County

DeBARY, Fla. — A man who previously tried to kidnap a girl might be stalking women in DeBary, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

Deputies said Jonathan Buchanan was arrested Tuesday on a criminal traffic violation and violation of probation.

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Investigators said they arrested him after a 35-year-old woman told deputies that a man followed her in a car Monday while she was jogging in DeBary.

The woman said she was out running around 7:30 a.m. when a silver Dodge Caliber passed her twice, including once very closely from behind, on the wrong side of the road.

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Deputies said the car passed her two more times and then followed her to a dead end before she was able to run to a group of construction workers for help.

Investigators said the woman used her phone to record the license plate number that traced back to Buchanan.

He was previously arrested in 2017 after he tried to kidnap a 16-year-old girl while she was walking to her bus stop in Ponce Inlet, deputies said.

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In that case, Buchanan got out of his vehicle, approached the girl, tried to talk with her, put his hand over her mouth and tried to force her into his vehicle, officials said.

Investigators said the girl bit him, she escaped and Buchanan fled, but Ponce Inlet police later found him in his vehicle with his pants unbuttoned and a stuffed animal in the front seat.

Deputies said social media activity suggests that there may be other victims who might have information that would assist them in their investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to email Volusia County Sgt. Ryan Mills at rmills@vcso.us or to call him at 386-668-3830.

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