Woman says reported Buckhead kidnapping was misunderstanding

A woman was reported kidnapped in Buckhead on Monday. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

A woman was reported kidnapped in Buckhead on Monday. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

A fugitive from Florida was arrested Monday after a fight with his girlfriend led a witness to call 911 and report a kidnapping in Buckhead, police said.

Eric Harris, 19, was fighting with his girlfriend, Shayla Thomas, outside of her job at a salon off Peachtree Road, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The incident happened about 4 p.m. at a salon at 22 Bennett Street, Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. Warren Pickard confirmed.

Eric Harris (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Credit: Whaley Kevin

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Credit: Whaley Kevin

A witness worried that Harris forced Thomas into an SUV and drove off, so that witness followed them to a nearby gas station, Thomas told Channel 2.

Though Thomas said everything was fine, the witness called 911 and reported a kidnapping.

About 5:45 p.m., police found the SUV in the parking lot at a Chick-fil-A restaurant about a mile away on Peachtree Road, Pickard said.

Harris ran from police, but he was quickly captured in connection to the alleged kidnapping.

When Thomas realized local media was reporting on a kidnapping, she walked out of the salon and told detectives she had been there the whole time and was never in any danger, Channel 2 reported.

Police learned that Harris was wanted in Florida in connection with a 2016 burglary. Officers found a stolen gun and drug paraphernalia in his possession, Channel 2 reported.

Thomas was allowed to return home and has not been charged.

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