CLEARWATER, Fla. — A 76-year-old woman thwarted an attempted kidnapping by screaming and falling to the ground of a Hobby Lobby parking lot Wednesday afternoon.
The Clearwater Police Department said 37-year-old Douglas Clark Harry Hoover walked up to the elderly woman as she was about to get into her car, shortly before 5:00 p.m., in the Hobby Lobby parking lot on U.S. 19 N.
Hoover cornered the woman against her car and told her, "I have a gun, get into the vehicle."
When the woman refused, Hoover got closer and repeated his demand, "get in the car, I have a gun."
That is when the woman screamed and fell to the ground — immediately causing Hoover to run away.
A witness then chased Hoover, but lost sight of him behind a Barnes and Noble.
Officers said they set up a perimeter and brought a K-9 officer to track Hoover.
With the help of K-9 Ambrose, officers located Hoover at The Park at Gibraltar apartment complex located at 2550 Stag Run Blvd.
Hoover was taken into custody and later positively identified by the elderly woman. He is being charged with felony attempted kidnapping.
