‘Kidnapping victim rescued by ex’ after secret TikTok signals used to raise alarm

Johnathon Smith, who has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated domestic assault, was accused of driving away from police with a woman in his car before overturning the vehicle

Image: Hickman County Sheriff’s Office)
A woman who was allegedly kidnapped was rescued after showing a hand signal circulated on TikTok.
The woman, whose name was not released by police, was visiting her brother when her ex, Johnathon Smith, 31, arrived at the home and picked her up, the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office claimed.
According to Lt. Mike Doddo “into a physical altercation”.
“The friend then asked to be let out. He said, ‘No,'” said Doddo Tennessee reports.
“[Smith]then threatened to kill her by grabbing a screwdriver and telling her if he couldn’t have her, nobody could have her.”
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Picture:
WKRN-TV)
After driving recklessly for a short period, Smith allegedly stopped the car at the Twice Daily gas station and they both went inside.
There, the woman placed her palm forward and stuck her thumb in before closing her four fingers over it and showing the cashier’s hand.
They repeated the gesture and prompted the woman to nod, Lt. Doddo, suggesting the hand sign had been learned on TikTok.
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Picture:
WKRN-TV)
The clerk then called 911, and when Smith started checking out, he began waiting, claiming that something was wrong with the register.
According to Lt. Doddo then realized Smith what had happened, took the woman back to the car and set off.
A police vehicle soon caught up with them, sparking a chase that reached speeds of 90 miles per hour, the sheriff’s office has claimed.
After about 15 minutes of driving, the fleeing vehicle crashed into a creek, prompting Smith to attempt to walk.
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Picture:
WKRN-TV)
The woman was not injured in the impact.
Johnathon Smith, 31, of Hickman County, was charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault in the incident.
It’s not the first time a woman has been helped after the hand gesture.
In November, a 61-year-old North Carolina man was arrested in Kentucky when a 16-year-old in the backseat gave other motorists the hand signal.
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/kidnap-victim-rescued-ex-after-26721469 'Kidnapping victim rescued by ex' after secret TikTok signals used to raise alarm