DELAND, Fla. -- A DeLand man is facing kidnapping and other charges after authorities say he beat up his ex-girlfriend, locked her in the trunk of a car and then had a high-speed chase with law enforcement, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
- Darrian Miler accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend numerous times
- Miler reached speeds of 120 mph during police chase, deputies say
- Miler facing kidnapping, false imprisonment among other charges
- SEE BELOW: Watch as Miler surrenders to deputies ▼
On Monday, around 9 p.m., Darrian Miler "demanded" that his ex-girlfriend drive him to the area of the 600 block of Margaret Street, according to deputies in a news release.
However, once they got there, the 42-year-old Miler told his ex-girlfriend to get out of the car and when she refused, Miler allegedly went around to the driver's door, punched her numerous times, and opened the trunk, deputies stated.
Miler took her cell phone, bankcard and money and said that she will not be calling anyone before he forced her into the trunk and then punched her more times, according to deputies.
The ex-girlfriend was able to open the trunk from the inside and screamed for help, but Miler struck her more times as he was trying to shut the truck, deputies continued, adding that gathering witnesses distracted Miler and that is when the woman escaped.
She ran to the Family Food Market on 1104 West Euclid Ave., DeLand, and as deputies arrived, they noticed that her face was swollen and her shirt was ripped and bloody, deputies stated.
Miler fled before deputies arrived and he was spotted in the area of Champions Gate Drive and LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach after midnight, according to authorities.
"Miler fled from Daytona Beach police and headed back to DeLand on International Speedway Boulevard, where he reached speeds of 120 mph as he continued to flee," deputies stated in the news release.
Miler eventually stopped at 1385 Julie Ave., DeLand, after deputies used stop sticks and he surrendered to authorities, VCSO confirmed.
He did complain of back pain and was taken to Florida Hospital DeLand, but once he was cleared by medical staff, he was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he is being held without bond, deputies explained.
His charges are:
- Carjacking
- Kidnapping
- False imprisonment
- Robbery
- Tampering with a witness
- Felony battery
- Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement
- Driving while license suspended
The woman said she is just thankful to have survived, but she suffered an arm injury -- her arm is now in cast and her jaw is badly bruised.
"(I'm) sore. I'm just glad to be alive," she said.
The woman did not want to release her identity because she was too afraid to show her face. Though in pain Tuesday, she found strength to stand up strong.
"It was just so scary to even be in that situation in the trunk. I didn't deserve that," she said.
She added, "I was panicking in the trunk kicking hollering and screaming and trying to get out. A spirit came over me and told me to just calm down, and that's when I came to my senses on what to do just thinking of a plan to get out."
That's when her quick thinking got her to the nearby food mart.
"This young lady is very lucky. She took a beating. For him to put her in the trunk of the car and God knows what his ultimate plan was," said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The woman said a child abuse charge listed on his record is for their daughter.
"He needs to stay in there; I have no sympathy for him," said the woman's daughter.
"Fight for your life because I made it out," said the woman.
Reporter Brittany Jones contributed to this story.