47-year-old Maryland resident Stephen McSwain was arrested last week in connection to a domestic assault on his romantic partner in Bunnell the day before. McSwain is accused of severely battering the victim, causing her significant injury.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the agency received a call on Thursday about a domestic disturbance (McSwain is tied to a Cranberry Ave residence in his jail booking). The victim said she had been dating McSwain for around a month, and that they'd gotten into a dispute that night. She told deputies she encouraged McSwain to find somewhere else to live, which is what she said triggered his violent response.
The FCSO says McSwain grabbed the victim by her neck, choking her and throwing her body to the ground. He then allegedly dragged her into a bedroom in the residence and slammed her head against the floor. For at least some time he's said to have forced her to stay in the bedroom, cutting off her means of communication by taking her cell phone and unplugging a smart device.
The victim reportedly tried to escape the bedroom through the door, before finally succeeding when she climbed out of a window and ran somewhere else so she could call the FCSO. Responding deputies found McSwain was not present at the home when they arrived, but they were able to locate him at a nearby Dollar General store. There, he was placed under arrest on three felony charges.
McSwain is still in the county jail as of Monday, booked on charges of domestic battery by strangulation, kidnapping, and tampering with a victim. He's being held on $75,000 bond. This is the first time McSwain has been arrested in Flagler County.
"There’s nowhere to run if you’re a criminal in Flagler County, and our deputies didn’t stop until this guy was checked in at the [county jail],” said Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. “We expect everyone to respect others, whether you’re from out of state or call Flagler County home your whole life. We will never accept violent crime in Flagler County and have a zero tolerance for domestic violence.”
