Watch: Fla. SWAT Officers Rescue Kidnapped Georgia Teen; Suspect Crashes During Escape

A suspect nearly struck a SWAT officer before crashing into a motel as Jacksonville sheriff's deputies and partner agencies rescued a kidnapped Georgia teenager.
Source Officer.com News
July 28, 2026
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What to Know

  • Jacksonville sheriff’s SWAT officers, working with the FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, rescued a 13-year-old Georgia girl who investigators say had been kidnapped and taken to a Florida motel.
  • Body camera footage shows a suspect fleeing the motel room, jumping into a vehicle and nearly striking a SWAT officer before crashing into the building during an attempted escape.
  • Two suspects, Jonathon Kelly and Giovannie Carter, face multiple charges, and officials credited interagency cooperation with helping bring the girl to safety.
Jacksonville, FL, Sheriff's Office
Jeffersonville sheriff's officers capture suspect in kidnapping of 13-year-old Georgia girl

Newly released video shows the tense moments surrounding the rescue of a Georgia teen after a suspect nearly struck a Jacksonville sheriff's SWAT officer during a failed escape attempt.

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Recently released body camera captured Florida sheriff's officers' dramatic rescue earlier this month of a kidnapped Georgia teenager from a motel room.

According to investigators, the 13-year-old girl had been taken from Georgia and brought to a Jacksonville motel, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated in a news release that included body camera footage. The sheriff's SWAT unti, along with the FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, launched a rescue operation for the girl.

As officers moved in on the motel room, a man—identified as Jonathon Kelly—fled from room, jumped into a car and tried to escape. He nearly struck a SWAT officer before crashing into the motel.

Kelly and another suspect, Giovannie Carter, face multiple charges stemming from the incident. The sheriff's office did not release video footage of finding the girl inside the room because of privacy and legal concerns. 

"While the FBI and GBI are leading this investigation, we’re grateful to have played a role in bringing this young girl to safety," the sheriff's office stated.

"This is what happens when law enforcement agencies work together every second matters, and every life matters," the agency added.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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