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VCSO Detectives Arrest Stalking Suspect: Man Repeatedly Threatened Victim's Life
Date Added: June 21, 2018 2:19 pm
Laura Williams, Office of Media Relations & Public Affairs
VCSO DETECTIVES ARREST STALKING SUSPECT: Man Repeatedly Threatened Victim, Caught by Detectives Posted at Her Home
A Deltona man who stalked his ex-girlfriend and made a series of violent threats – including one claiming he would “do to her what that guy in Orlando did to his family” – was arrested by Volusia County sheriff’s detectives Wednesday night after they posted at her home in Orange City in case he showed up.
He did. After 33-year-old Ferdinand Thompson drove slowly ...past the victim’s home, sheriff’s detectives followed him, conducted a traffic stop and took him into custody on a charge of aggravated stalking.
The events began unfolding last Wednesday (June 13), when the victim reported Thompson stole her car and sent her several text messages, including one around 1:20 a.m. that threatened to kill her. Thompson was arrested two days later, on Friday, on a warrant charging him with making written threats to kill.
He was released early Saturday after posting $1,500 bail and he was ordered not to contact the victim. But on Saturday, the victim contacted the Sheriff’s Office again to report that Thompson called her 13 times from a blocked number.
During one of the calls, Thompson threatened to kill her and another man who had recently been giving her a ride to work. The victim also told a deputy that Thompson had made threats referring to the recent murder-suicide in Orlando, where a domestic violence suspect shot an Orlando police officer, barricaded inside his apartment and then shot and killed four children and himself.
On Wednesday, the victim contacted the Sheriff’s Office again to report vandalism to her vehicle. The victim discovered unknown fluid leaking from the vehicle Wednesday morning and took the vehicle to an AutoZone in Orange City, where it was confirmed the power steering line was cut.
After receiving the warrant to arrest Thompson on a charge of aggravated stalking, detectives and deputies were searching for him. On Wednesday evening, one detective parked directly in front of the victim’s home in Orange City to conduct surveillance.
Soon he spotted a black Chevrolet Cobalt (which Thompson was known to drive) driving slowly past the home. The detective followed the vehicle and, with help of the Orange City Police Department and deputies, conducted a felony traffic stop. Thompson was arrested without incident and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he remained held without bond today.
“Based on the threats and violent statements made by this individual, I believe these detectives may have saved this woman’s life,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “The way our deputies jumped on this case is a testament to the hard work and protection our men and women are committed to providing every person in Volusia County.”