On Thursday, September 5, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance in Bunnell. Deputies found the victim at a nearby residence in distress with obvious signs of being attacked. The victim told deputies she had been dating Steven McSwain, 47, of Maryland for about a month.
That night the couple disagreed, with the victim telling McSwain to find somewhere else to live. Instead of leaving, McSwain grabbed the victim by the neck, choking her and throwing her to the ground. The victim stated McSwain then dragged her to a bedroom, repeatedly banged her head on the floor, and held her against her will. She also told deputies he took her phone and unplugged an at-home smart device when she tried to ask it to call 911 verbally. After several attempts to escape the bedroom through the door, the victim was able to escape to a bathroom, climb out a window, and run to safety to call FCSO.
When deputies arrived at the home where the attack took place, McSwain had already left the scene. Deputies canvassed the area, eventually finding him at a nearby Dollar General. McSwain was arrested for Domestic Battery by Strangulation, Kidnapping, and Tampering with a Victim. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $75,000 bond.
Steven McSwain (Flagler County Jail Mugshot)
“There’s nowhere to run if you’re a criminal in Flagler County, and our deputies didn’t stop until this guy was checked in at the Green Roof Inn,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We expect everyone to respect others, whether you’re from out of state or call Flagler County home your whole life. We will never accept violent crime in Flager County and have zero tolerance for domestic violence.”
If you recognize that you or someone you know are in a violent relationship, please call FCSO at 386-313-4911, or contact the Family Life Center’s Domestic Violence Crisis Helpline at 386-437-3505. Resources are available to help you break the cycle of violence before it becomes deadly.
