Cops: Man abducted, beat victim
Published 10:25 am Monday, February 22, 2016
By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor
ALABASTER – A 45-year-old Alabaster man who has a lengthy criminal history is facing multiple felony charges after police said he allegedly abducted, beat and threatened to kill a victim during an early February incident.
The Alabaster Police Department arrested Sylvester Anthony Shortridge, who lists an address on 10th Avenue Southeast in Alabaster, on Feb. 18 and charged him with felony counts of first-degree kidnapping, making terrorist threats and second-degree domestic violence and a misdemeanor count of interfering with a domestic violence emergency call.
According to his arrest warrants, Shortridge allegedly abducted a victim on Feb. 8 before transporting the victim to his residence and assaulting her.
After Shortridge transported the victim to his house, he allegedly “struck her in the back of the head knocking her to the ground, struck her repeatedly with a closed fist and knocked out one of her teeth, cut her face with a knife and forced her to remove her clothes and then struck her across her breast with a belt.”
The victim “made attempts to leave and the defendant would not allow her to leave,” and Shortridge allegedly claimed the victim “would not leave alive.”
While the victim was attempting to call 911, Shortridge allegedly took her phone away from her.
After the incident was reported to police, officers arrested Shortridge and charged him with the crimes.
He currently is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $460,000. The bond amount is higher than normal at the request of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
In its recommendation to raise Shortridge’s bond, the District Attorney’s Office said the suspect previously has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, two counts of criminal mischief, rape, third-degree burglary, third-degree domestic violence, seven counts of assault, second-degree theft of property, second-degree receiving stolen property, two counts of third degree-assault, resisting arrest, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and obstruction of justice.
The DA’s Office claimed Shortridge has previously has failed to appear for court on two occasions, and said he has one prior probation violation incident.
According to court records, Shortridge previously pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license, harassing communications, felony driving under the influence, harassing communications, second-degree burglary, third-degree domestic violence, driving while license revoked and obstruction of justice.
He was on probation for the obstruction of justice charge when he was arrested on Feb. 18.
“Defendant poses a danger to the public at large and (is) a risk of flight,” read the DA’s Office request.