VALDOSTA, Ga. – On November 8, 2019, at approximately 12:10 a.m., a female was walking in the 500 block of Charlton Street, according to a Valdosta Police Department report.

As she was walking, her ex-boyfriend, later identified as John Anthony Berry, 57 of Valdosta, approached and physically grabbed her, forcing her into his vehicle.

Berry drove the victim to his residence, while not allowing her to get out of the vehicle.  Once at his residence Berry tried to drag her into inside but she was able to get free and ran screaming for help.

Berry then chased her in his vehicle, trying to run her over.

The victim was able to run into a home and call 911.  A description was given of Berry and his vehicle to law enforcement officers in the area.

A Valdosta Police Department patrol officer located Berry at the intersection of North Lee and Webster Street.  As the officer tried to stop Berry, he began to flee at a high rate of speed in his vehicle.

Officers pursued Berry until he stopped his vehicle behind a residence in the 700 block of Slater Street, where he fled on foot.

A K9 Unit from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office assisted in locating Berry hiding in bushes behind a church in the 700 block of Ashley Street.  Berry was taken into custody without incident.

Detectives with the Valdosta Police Department’s Persons Crime Unit responded and investigated this case.

Berry was transported to Lowndes County Jail and he has been charged with the following offenses:

• Kidnapping-felony;
• False imprisonment-felony;
• Aggravated assault-felony;
• Aggravated battery-felony;
• Aggravated stalking-felony; and
• Obstruction of an officer-misdemeanor.

“We are so thankful that the victim was able to get away from the offender and run for help,” VPD Chief Leslie Manahan stated. “Our officers did an excellent job looking for this offender to ensure that a dangerous subject was taken off the streets quickly.”