VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL – Sheriff’s detectives are asking for the public’s help with an investigation into reports of stalking activity in DeBary involving a suspect with a prior conviction of an attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl.
According to authorities, this morning, November 30, deputies conducted a traffic stop in DeBary and arrested Jonathan Buchanan, 31, on a minor criminal traffic violation of failure to update his address and a violation of probation charge. The arrest followed a report received Monday from a 25-year-old female victim who told deputies that a man followed her in his car while she was out jogging in DeBary.
The incident reportedly occurred the previous Monday morning in the area of Community Drive and South Shell Road. The victim said she was out running around 7:30 a.m. when a silver Dodge Caliber passed her twice, including once very closely from behind, on the wrong side of the road. The car passed her two more times and then followed her to a dead end before she was able to run to a group of construction workers for help.
Before the suspect vehicle drove away, the victim was able to capture a video clip on her phone, which included the tag number: QWYR78. That tag came back to Buchanan, whose registered address is in South Daytona, but who has been living in DeBary without updating his address, a violation of his probation.
Buchanan was previously arrested in 2017 and later convicted in the attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl on the way to her bus stop in Ponce Inlet. In that case, Buchanan got out of his vehicle, approached the victim, tried to start a conversation with her and then put his hand over her mouth attempting to force her into his vehicle. She bit him and escaped, and Buchanan fled, but Ponce Inlet police later found him in his vehicle with his pants unbuttoned and a stuffed animal in the front seat.
While Buchanan’s vehicle tag and personal description match the victim’s report in the DeBary case, detectives are asking for any additional victims or witnesses to come forward with information. Social media activity suggests there may be other victims in DeBary or elsewhere who might have information that would assist in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Ryan Mills at [email protected] or 386-668-3830. Additional charges against Buchanan are pending further investigation.
UPDATE DEC 1, 2021, 3:25 PM: Jonathan Buchanan has been charged with stalking after another jogger who saw yesterday’s news release came forward to report he followed her in DeBary in October. Buchanan, who was already in custody following his arrest yesterday is now also charged with simple stalking and an additional violation of probation. The victim in the new case, a 31-year-old DeBary woman, contacted the Sheriff’s Office yesterday afternoon after seeing the Facebook post on Buchanan’s arrest. She met with detectives today and detailed how she noticed Buchanan’s silver Dodge Caliber followed her on her jog, stopping when she stopped to drink water. She said when she saw the photo of Buchanan and his vehicle she immediately recognized him as the one who followed her. Detectives determined Buchanan moved into his DeBary apartment on September 1 as the only tenant, and is the only one his landlord has ever seen driving his Dodge Caliber. Any additional victims are still encouraged to come forward if they have experienced similar incidents. Contact Sgt. Ryan Mills at [email protected] or 386-668-3830.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office
UPDATE DEC 2, 2021, 5:02 PM: Today, a third potential victim came forward reporting yet another similar incident, which may prompt an additional charge in the near future. Detectives are continuing to ask for potential victims to come forward with information. Contact Sgt. Ryan Mills [email protected] or 386-668-3830.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office
UPDATE DEC 3, 2021, 11:56 AM: According to authorities, a third stalking charge has been filed against Jonathan Buchanan based on information received from a third victim who came forward yesterday. The third victim, a 40-year-old DeBary woman, contacted the Sheriff’s Office after seeing the news. She reported she immediately recognized Buchanan as the person who followed her in his vehicle while she was on a walk in DeBary in early November. She explained that Buchanan was so persistent in following her that she hid in some bushes twice to try and lose him. She said the vehicle passed by several times as she hid, and she felt as if the suspect was looking for her. In addition to the new stalking charge, Buchanan was also charged with an additional count of violation of probation. He is still in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail on all his charges.
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