TAMPA - Police say a Tampa man kidnapped his ex-girlfriend's 3-year-old son and demanded a $50 ransom to return her child and her car Wednesday.
Emmit Eugene Bunkley Sr., 33, was arrested after a chase that ended with a car crash at E Hillsborough and N Florida avenues. The accident, just before 5 p.m. rush hour, backed up traffic in all directions, including north and southbound Interstate 275.
Bunkley was charged with kidnapping, battery, car theft, aggravated fleeing and eluding, child abuse, hit and run, resisting arrest with violence and reckless driving.
Police say at about 6 a.m., Bunkley went to Yvoni C. Fowler's home, where she was preparing to go to work at Tampa General Hospital. He forced her into her 1987 Nissan Maxima and made her drive to an ATM to withdraw $60 for him, Tampa police Lt. Marc Hamlin said. Fowler's 3-year-old son, who is not related to Bunkley, was in the back seat.
After he got the money, Bunkley "choked and punched" Fowler, police said. He then dropped her off at work and left with the child. He later called Fowler to say if she gave him another $50, he would return her son and car. She called police.
A police helicopter spotted the Maxima and Sgt. Julie Dickie, driving an unmarked police car, caught up with Bunkley near Nebraska Avenue.
Dickie put her car in front of Bunkley to stop him, showed him her badge and aimed her gun at him. He rammed her vehicle and kept driving, police said. At Hillsborough and Florida, he crashed into a Toyota 4Runner.
Police said Bunkley tried to run after the collision, but Officer Jeff Sanchez chased him down.
Records show Bunkley has been arrested at least three times in Hillsborough since 1999. He escaped from prison after all three arrests, records show.
