A heroic officer in North Augusta is being credited with saving a woman from being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend over the weekend.
Public Safety Officer Nicholas Smoak answered a domestic call at 6 a.m. Saturday on Ridgefield Drive. He was told the man was waving his handgun and refusing to leave. But when Officer Smoak arrived, he saw the man trying to leave in his silver BMW with a woman struggling to get out, according to a report. The suspect saw the officer and tried to evade the officer.
“I observed (the victim) fighting frantically with the suspect to escape the vehicle,” the report says. “I was able to block the vehicle in, at which time the suspect raised his hands out of the driver’s side window.”
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Nigel Rowe of Easley, had apparently tracked his ex-girlfriend down to the home where she was trying to hide from him because of abuse.
Rowe was found with meth in his car, and he confessed to using drugs on occasion when “hanging out” with his friends. The suspect claimed the victim had recently broken up with him and taken their three children with her.
The victim said she left Rowe after ongoing issues with domestic violence and was staying in North Augusta with a friend in hopes he would not find her. On Friday, she began receiving phone calls and vulgar text messages where he threatened to “bury her,” a report says. Within two days, Rowe had called her 48 times, left 11 voicemails and sent 43 text messages.
The victim said Rowe used her Cash app purchases and cell phone to track her to North Augusta. “Suspect is reported to be extremely computer savvy and literate, owning his own electronics store,” the report says.
After arriving on Ridgefield Drive, Rowe pulled out his gun and yelled for the victim to exit the home. Fearing he would come inside and harm their children and her friend’s children, she came outside. The friend also came outside armed with a gun, leading Rowe to point his gun at the friend.
As the ex-girlfriend tried to call police, Rowe grabbed her phone, and he tried to leave with the victim as she tried to get the phone back from his car, a report says.
Rowe has been charged with kidnapping, domestic violence high & aggravated, pointing and presenting a firearm, unlawful communication, unlawful carrying of a pistol, weapon possession and meth distribution.
