New Smyrna Beach, FL - In what is believed to be the first local arrest for violating the stay at home order, 28-year-old James Grimes is charged with that, along with three felonies: kidnapping, domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment.
New Smyrna Beach Police report that Grimes left his home in Edgewater and drove to New Smyrna Beach for a confrontation with an ex-girlfriend. He went to her place of work and found the woman outside on a smoke break. She told officers that he grabbed her by the arm, dragged her to his vehicle and put her inside. He got in, locking the doors and holding on to her so she couldn't leave. The woman said Grimes grabbed her aounrd the throat with his right hand and applied pressure to her throat. At this point, she started punching him in the face. He let go and she was able to get out of the car. At this time, Grimes drove away.
When investigators showed up at Grimes home, he told a different version, saying they had been arguing through text. He showed the officer texts that appeared to be an argument. Grimes said she was jealous because he'd been with another girl. He also said she told him to come to her work to talk about it. A check of his texts did not find that information. Grimes went to where the victim was and said she got in his carof her own free will. He said during the conversation, she got mad and slapped him in the face, then left the car.
A check of the business' surveillance showed no cameras pointing to where the altercation allegedly took place. The victim did have a large red mark on the left side of her neck and throat, indicative of being choked. Grimes did have a bruise on his nose.
Grimes was taken to Volusia County Jail. He has along arrest record that includes battery, child abuse, animal abuse and drug possession charges.
