An Atmore area man is behind bars after being charged with second degree kidnapping in connection with the alleged crime that occurred in the Nokomis Community on June 23.

Jereme Fitz Riley, 25, of 250 Thompson Rd. was taken into custody, without incident, just after 10:30 p.m. June 23 at the BP convenience store located at Exit 54 off I-65 on Jack Springs Road, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mike Lambert.

“We received a 911 call at around 4:30 p.m. on June 23 reporting a young woman missing from her home,” Lambert said. “The mother of the alleged victim reported that her daughter’s room was strewn and the last outgoing call from the home phone was made to 911. Her daughter was not home at the time of the call.”

Lambert said the incident took place at the Nokomis home where Riley is suspected of entering the home and taking the victim against her will.

“When our deputies arrived on the scene they began their investigation by speaking with the parents of the victim,” Lambert said. “While our deputies were there, the father of the victim received a call on his cell phone from a clerk at an Atmore convenience store.”

Lambert said the caller told the victim’s father she had seen his daughter with a man and believed she was being held against her will and had been abducted.

“Our officers responded to the Atmore location with the Atmore Police Department providing assistance at that time,” Lambert said. “When we arrived the victim and suspect had fled the scene.”

As the investigation continued, contact was made to the mother of the victim that the pair had been seen at Hibbett’s Sporting Goods, Lambert said.

“The victim had gotten away from the suspect at Hibbett’s,” Lambert said. “That’s when we first made contact with her.”

Lambert said witnesses said the suspect had left the location driving a blue Cadillac. At time an “all points bulletin” was issued for the suspect and the vehicle.

“Riley was apprehended at the BP station located on Jack Springs Road at I-65, exit 54,” Lambert said. “He was taken into custody at about 10:30 p.m that evening without incident and was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center.”

Lambert said the victim was taken to Atmore Community Hospital to be treated for alleged injuries she sustained during the incident.

Lambert also said an investigation into the full nature of the alleged crimes is being conducted. Additional charges may be pending, he said.

Due to the nature of the crime, law enforcement officials have withheld the name and exact address of the victim.

Riley was being held at the Escambia County Detention Center in lieu of $25,000 as of press time Tuesday.