Woman didn’t know man who tried kidnapping her then stalked her at work, SC sheriff says
A woman said she didn’t know the man when he tried to kidnap her and later stalked her, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Joey Miles Strickland, a 41-year-old Gaston resident, was charged with first-degree assault and battery, kidnapping and stalking, the sheriff’s department said Wednesday in a news release.
“The sequence of events between Strickland and the woman started Jan. 14 at a gas station,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release. “He spoke with her at the gas station and asked if she was married. He left the gas station before she did and about 10 minutes later blocked her in her driveway.”
Strickland tried to pull the woman into his car but she fought him off by hitting him with an unloaded pistol, the sheriff’s department said.
“Strickland went to the woman’s place of employment Jan. 22 and made statements to her co-workers about the woman ‘pistol whipping him,’ ” Koon said. “The victim does not know Strickland. Because his actions at the place of business would cause a reasonable person fear, that prompted the stalking charge.”
Information about how Strickland knew where the victim lived and worked was not available.
Investigators identified Strickland by reviewing security camera footage from the gas station where the initial encounter took place, the sheriff’s department said.
There was no word about when the incidents were reported to the sheriff’s department, but Strickland was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Lexington County Detention Center, according to the release.
Bond was denied on all of the charges and Strickland remains behind bars, jail records show.
This is not the first time Strickland has been arrested.
In January 2023, Strickland pleaded guilty to a second-degree assault and battery charge, according to Lexington County court records. Again in November 2024, Strickland pleaded guilty to a charge of use of vehicle without permission for temp. purpose only, unconnected to other crime, court records show.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 7:54 AM.
