NC Firefighter Charged In Bizarre Kidnapping

A firefighter paramedic with the Dunn, North Carolina, Emergency Services has been charged with kidnapping a fire academy student. And that is not the most bizarre part of this story.

The alleged victim of the kidnapping, a 19-year-old student in the Johnston Community College Fire Academy, reportedly had lewd pictures of the firefighter’s daughter.

According to the Johnston County Report, Jonathan Lewis Crawford, 35, went to Johnston Community College on August 28, 2019, to confront the teen about the lewd photos. Crawford reportedly used a firearm to force the teen to accompany him to the Dunn Police Department, and once there released him unharmed.

On September 3, 2019, Crawford was charged by the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office with kidnapping. The Sheriff’s Office is also investigating the lewd photo allegations. Crawford has since resigned from Dunn Emergency Services. The kidnapping victim remains a member of the organization.

A GoFundMe page has reportedly been established to help cover Crawford’s legal fees.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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