Dover Woman Held Against Will Freed With Help Of K-9 Specter: Sheriff

DOVER, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said it has rescued a woman being held against her will in a home in Dover while the man accused of holding her hostage was apprehended by a sheriff's K-9.

On Friday, Nov. 25, the sheriff's dispatch center received multiple phone calls reporting a woman being held against her will. Around 12:30 p.m., deputies responded to the home in the 1300 block of Wilkinson Drive and made numerous attempts to reach anyone inside the home, according to the sheriff's report.

Finally, deputies said they forced their way through the front door and rescued the woman being held there. They also discovered that the man accused of holding her against her will was still inside the home.

With K-9 Specter at his side, Deputy Dustin Hartline ordered the man, later identified as Kim Michael Torres, 44, of Wilkinson Drive in Plant City to come out but deputies said he refused to comply. Finally, Hartline release Specter who found Torres hiding in a kitchen cabinet, said the sheriff's report.

As trained, K-9 Specter used his teeth to pull Torres from his hiding place, said the sheriff's office.

Torres was treated at the scene by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and then taken to the Falkenburg Road Jail.

“We gave the suspect multiple warnings, advising him to come out,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The safety of the victim and our deputies on the scene is the top priority. Had it not been for the professionalism of our deputies, it could have ended differently. I also credit our dispatchers who recognized the need for deputies to respond after the victim attempted to call for help without the suspect noticing.”

Torres remains in jail in lieu of $2,500 in bail, charged with fleeing to elude, false imprisonment and resisting arrest.