A Lithonia man was convicted on kidnapping charges after prosecutors said he forced his girlfriend into a car, drove her around and refused to let her go.
A Gwinnett County judge sentenced Tiki Sims, 38, to 12 years in prison and eight years of probation, District Attorney Danny Porter said in a statement.
Sims’ charges stem from an incident that happened the evening on Nov. 3, 2018, Porter said.
The girlfriend was at a party in the area of Zoar Road and Centerville Highway when Sims showed up, Porter said. The couple had argued earlier that day, so the girlfriend decided to leave the party.
As the woman walked toward Centerville Highway, Sims pulled up next to her and told her to get in his car, Porter said. She refused, and Sims got violent with her, he said.
“The defendant got out of his vehicle, physically attacked the victim and threw her inside the back passenger side of the car,” Porter said.
Sims sped off with the woman in the car. He didn’t stop for any red lights “in order to prevent her from getting out of the vehicle,” Porter said.
Sims drove the girlfriend into DeKalb County while she continually told him to stop and to let her go. The girlfriend managed to call 911 from the back seat and tried to give the dispatcher her location.
Sims reached into the back seat and tried to hit the woman while driving somewhere in the area of Redan and Panola roads, Porter said. In the process, he hit a curb and damaged both tires on the passenger side of the car.
The woman opened the door, jumped out and ran to a gas station for help, Porter said. Sims followed her inside, but left when an attendant called police.
Sims was arrested and booked into the Gwinnett jail two days after the incident, records show.
In court, Sims denied forcing the woman into the vehicle and said he never heard her ask to be let out. He said they had driven several places that night and that the woman got out of the car after he hit something in the road.
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