The suspect in a Sept. 21 attempted kidnapping of a Tennessee State University student on the Vanderbilt campus was arrested Oct. 23 by a City of St. Augustine police officer in St. Augustine, Florida. The officer stopped a white van with plates matching those of the vehicle registered to the suspect, Scott Douglas Wallace, near the beach area of the city. The officer positively identified Wallace, who was wanted on federal fugitive and State of Tennessee warrants, and took him into custody.
The federal warrant charging unlawful flight to avoid prosecution is expected to be dismissed now that Wallace is in custody.
Wallace is currently incarcerated in the St. John’s County Jail awaiting extradition back to Tennessee. The Metro Nashville Police Department Fugitive Unit will handle the legal transfer of Wallace back to Tennessee.
Representatives from the Vanderbilt University Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit notified the victim of the arrest.
VUPD, working with Metropolitan Nashville Police, released photos of Wallace and a photo of a 2001 white Chevrolet Venture with Ohio tag GES7128 registered in his name that was believed to have been used in the kidnapping attempt shortly after the incident. On Oct. 7, the FBI issued a “be on the lookout” notice for Wallace and offered a $5,000 award for information leading to his arrest.
Wallace, 38, is accused of knocking the TSU student to the ground as she was crossing 25th Avenue South at 2:12 a.m. Sept. 21 at the intersection with Jess Neely Drive. According to police reports, a white male, approximately 35 to 40 years old and driving a white minivan, pulled up to the traffic light, put the van in park and exited the vehicle, leaving the driver’s side door open. He ran after the woman and tackled her to the ground. She managed to break free and ran west along Jess Neely Drive. A group of students walking south on 25th Avenue South saw the incident and began shouting and running toward the intersection. The driver ran back to the van, drove left on Jess Neely Drive and right on Natchez Trace toward West End Avenue.
The witnesses tracked down an Allied Barton security officer and a Vanderbilt community service officer who radioed the Vanderbilt University Police Department, which responded.
The student received abrasions to the head and elbow.
A security notice was issued to the Vanderbilt campus Sept. 21.