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Few certainties after alleged abduction

A woman is in jail after telling police different versions of her and her kids' alleged abduction.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published August 29, 2005

TAMPA - The search for a Tampa woman and her two young children allegedly abducted at gunpoint by an ex-boyfriend ended Sunday, more than 12 hours after authorities issued an Amber Alert.

Chanelle Strickland, 21, 4-year-old son Sensay Strickland and 1-year-old daughter Harvienna Strickland were in police custody by 4 p.m. Sunday, according to a message canceling the alert.

Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin said that Strickland went to the Lee Davis Health Clinic on N 22nd Street about 3:30 p.m. and contacted police after seeing news reports of the abduction.

She was charged in the case, after giving police different versions of what happened.

Harvey Nathaniel Stevens Jr., 28, Harvienna's father and the man police say abducted the family, had not been taken into custody.

Police said Stevens went to Strickland's home at 4108 N Boulevard, on the outskirts of south Seminole Heights, about 9 p.m. Saturday and confronted her. The two exchanged words and Stevens left.

Strickland and her roommate were standing outside when Stevens came back, holding a handgun. Police said he stood in front of Strickland, threatened her and ordered her and the children to go with him.

He took them to the back of the house, and they disappeared. Strickland's roommate called police as they left.

Before the alert was canceled, Stevens' family denied that Stevens took Strickland and the children by force or that he was armed and dangerous.

Durkin said that a woman called 911 early Sunday, identified herself as Chanelle Strickland, and said she and the children were okay. But she refused to tell the 911 operator where she was or to wait for an officer.

Jail records showed that Stevens was arrested on a domestic violence charge in March 2003. He was charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant woman. He also was arrested in August 2001 on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery with great bodily harm and possession and sale of cocaine.

As police interviewed Strickland Sunday, they offered little explanation what happened.

Strickland was charged with a misdemeanor count of making false statements to law enforcement officials. Under questioning, she gave detectives different versions of what happened.

She admitted to lying to protect the gunman, police said. Her children were taken into custody by the Department of Children and Families. She was taken to the Orient Road Jail.

[Last modified August 29, 2005, 03:00:19]