Dalton kidnapping arrest

Officials say 47-year-old Dennis Charles Watkins picked up the victim Monday night at a CVS Pharmacy.

He did know her.

The victim’s family reported her missing when she didn’t show up as expected later that evening.

Law enforcement found the victim’s car at the CVS, and surveillance video showed her leaving with Watkins.

A tip on Tuesday lead police to Watkins’ car at the Guest Inn.

They then found out what room he was in and went to investigate.

They knocked and asked him to come out, but he did not.

Officers heard the victim scream for help, and they opened the door to find it barricaded by a desk and had to kick their way in.

Watkins had a knife and scissors.

He dropped them when police threatened to tase him.

Watkins then surrendered without incident to police.

The victim was checked out and found unharmed.

She told police she’d been held against her will and had her life threatened.

Watkins was taken to the hospital for evaluation because of apparent drug and alcohol intoxication. 

He’ll face charges of kidnapping in Whitfield County and aggravated assault, false imprisonment, making terroristic threats, and aggravated sodomy in Dalton.