CUMMING — Forsyth County authorities have charged a man with kidnapping, false imprisonment and a list of other charges after they chased him and caught him in Lake Lanier Monday night.
Kip Timothy Smith, 20, of Cumming got into a physical argument with his girlfriend outside a home on Forest Circle, which is located off Chattahoochee Road, according to Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputy Robin Regan. Smith drove out of the neighborhood as the argument progressed and refused to allow the woman to exit his vehicle. Regan said officers, who had been called to the scene, saw Smith as he attempted to leave the neighborhood.
"The man [Smith] drove extremely recklessly in residential areas and continued to refuse to let the female leave the vehicle," said Regan.
Eventually, said Regan, deputies were able to block Smith's car and get him to stop, but that's when the suspect jumped from the car and ran a short distance, jumping into Lake Lanier.
"He attempted to swim down a creek while deputies maintained a visual on the shoreline. Marine patrol units, bike patrol units and K-9 units were heading to the area to assist with the perimeter," said Regan. "Once Mr. Smith realized there were so many deputies that were surrounding the area, he did surrender and came back to the shoreline."
In addition to the kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, Smith also was charged with simple assault, criminal damage to property - 1st degree, theft by taking, obstruction of law enforcement officers, fleeing and attempting to elude, driving while license is suspended, failure to stop at a stop sign, passing in a no-passing zone, failure to signal lane change, no seat belt, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, obstructing traffic and improper passing.
Regan said the woman was not physically harmed during the incident. Her name was not released.
