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A budding online romance lead to involuntary imprisonment in southwest Miami-Dade this week.
Police say 19-year-old Jazzima Barnes and 25-year-old James Myles met on an online dating site. The two met up sometime this weekend, and Barnes ended up staying at his home for three days. On Tuesday, however, Barnes, who is listed by police as homeless, wanted to leave. Myles wouldn’t let her.
According to a police report, Barnes tried to leave through the front door, but Myles grabbed her, dragged her back inside, and shouted, “You’re not going anywhere.” Myles then allegedly shoved a curtain in her mouth to muffle her screams. The two struggled and Barnes bit his finger.
Eventually he allowed Barnes to use the bathroom, but she tried to run to another part of the house. That’s when Myles allegedly punched her and then locked her in a bedroom.
Myles eventually left the home and Barnes called police. She wasn’t sure where she was, so she stayed on the phone for several hours as police tried to locate her. Police also say that they could hear Myles assaulting Barnes during portions of the hours-long 911 call.
Police were eventually able to locate and free Barnes. Myles was arrested and charged with false imprisonment.
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