Crime & Safety
Elderly Woman Outsmarts Would-Be Kidnapper: Police
The woman was getting into a car at a Clearwater Hobby Lobby parking lot when a man ordered that she go with him
CLEARWATER, FL - A 76-year-old woman outsmarted a would-be kidnapper Wednesday at a Clearwater Hobby Lobby parking lot, according to Clearwater police. The woman was getting into a car when Douglas Clark Hoover walked up to her and ordered that she go with him.
"Get in the car, I have a gun," Hoover said, according to police. But the woman refused. So Hoover moved closer to her and repeated, "Get in the car, I have a gun."
The woman screamed and fell to the ground. That scared off Hoover who ran away, police said. A witness gave chase, but couldn't catch him. Clearwater police were called and arrived with a K9 officer. The police dog tracked Hoover to an apartment complex on Stag Run Boulevard. where he was arrested.
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Hoover has been charged with attempted kidnapping.
Image via Shutterstock
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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