JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Facebook Live appeared to show a 22-year-old man sought by police in connection with a domestic-related abduction Sunday in the area of Atlantic Boulevard and Acme Street in Arlington.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded early Sunday to a home, where police said they learned a 21-year-old woman was taken from the residence at gunpoint.
According to police, Daniel Anthony Cruz forced his way into the home, pulled out a gun, dragged the woman by the hair out of the residence and then took off.
The Sheriff’s Office announced just after 9:30 a.m. Sunday that the woman had been found, but officers were still looking for Cruz. He had still not been found as of Monday morning.
Several viewers later sent News4Jax a link to a Facebook Live that appeared to have been posted by Cruz as police searched for him. It was nearly an hour long.
“I’m on Live cuz I’m good. But I’m not on Live like ‘Oh, look at me. I’m on the run. Come and catch me like a gingerbread man. Come and catch me if you can.’ No, I’m not on this s*** cuz of that,” the man can be heard saying in the video. “I’m not no fugitive now. I’m a fugitive. You’re not a fugitive if you don’t do nothing.”
He also says: “She’s good from what I heard. From my understanding, she’s good. Everything, really, like a misunderstanding.”
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Ken Jefferson weighed in on the video.
“He’s still wanted. He’s still wanted for questioning. If he’s so innocent, why doesn’t he turn himself in, let the police question him and clear him. He can’t clear himself,” Jefferson said. “Based on the information that police have, he’s actually the one they’re looking for in this particular crime. So they’re not going to stop their search. The search continues. They’re not going to stop their investigation. The investigation is going to continue."
Police said it was not immediately known what type of vehicle Cruz could be in.
Anyone who has any information about Cruz’s whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward of up to $3,000, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).