Aiken County, South Carolina — A truck-driving preacher is being credited with helping save a woman who escaped an alleged kidnapping after she ran into a highway with her hands restrained, desperately seeking help.
Authorities say the dramatic incident unfolded near the Georgia-South Carolina border and ultimately led to the arrest of a man accused of kidnapping and impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Woman Runs Toward Truck Seeking Help
According to officials, 53-year-old Anthony J. Moore was driving through Aiken County when he witnessed a frightening scene unfold directly in front of his truck.
Dashcam footage reportedly shows a woman running into the roadway while trying to escape from a man who was pursuing her.
Moore said he immediately realized something was seriously wrong.
“I let my window down and she said, ‘Please help me. He’s trying to kidnap me,’” Moore recalled.
The woman, who still had her hands restrained, ran toward safety as Moore and others nearby attempted to assist her.
Suspect Allegedly Claimed to Be Police Officer
Investigators say the suspect, identified as Jonathan Willard, 39, allegedly approached the woman earlier while she was taking a walk.
According to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Department, the man told the woman he was a police officer before taking her phone and Social Security card.
Authorities allege he then placed her in handcuffs and forced her into the back seat of his vehicle. The victim later told investigators that the suspect drove to a gated property and stopped.
While the man was searching through the trunk, she reportedly climbed over a seat and escaped through the driver’s side door.
Dashcam Captures Critical Evidence
As the woman fled, Moore’s truck camera recorded the incident. The footage reportedly shows the suspect pulling his Cadillac in front of Moore’s truck and displaying what appeared to be a badge.
“And he said, ‘I’m with law enforcement, and she jumped out of my car,’” Moore recounted.
The suspect then allegedly drove away from the area.
Moore later said he believed the dashcam footage played an important role in documenting what happened.
“I just see it as a divine assignment from God, because had not I been there with the dashcam … they probably wouldn’t have caught the footage that needed to be catched,” Moore told.
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“It was another assignment from God, a special assignment from God. That a life needed to be saved.”
Community Members Step In to Help
After the woman escaped, bystanders quickly gathered to assist her. Witnesses called 911, removed the handcuffs and provided water while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
Moore said the woman told him she had recently graduated and that the suspect had allegedly taken her diploma along with other personal belongings.
The victim later asked Moore to accompany her back to the area where she escaped in hopes of finding her missing property, but they reportedly found nothing.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Authorities later arrested Willard and charged him with one count of kidnapping and one count of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
He remains in custody at the Aiken County Detention Center. Meanwhile, Moore has downplayed any suggestion that he is a hero.
The pastor of Amazing Grace Ministries and a 27-year Army veteran said he was simply grateful authorities caught the suspect before anyone else could be harmed.
“When I learned that he was caught the next day I was relieved of a lot of things that he didn’t get away,” he said, “to go try that again someplace else.”
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