A Bartow man was arrested on Thursday for holding two 16-year-old girls against their will, according to the Bartow Police Department.
Around 7 a.m. on Thursday, the Bartow Police Department was contacted about two minors who had been transported from Leesburg by a 22-year-old Bartow man and held against their will.
Officers learned that the two girls had been contacted by Marquis Jamal Wright, 22, in Leesburg the night before. That night, the two teenage girls went with Wright back to his house on Magnolia Street East in Bartow. When they got there, Wright began to act "weird" and became verbally violent with the girls, according to police.
Both minors were told they were not leaving the house without Wright.
Sometime during the early morning hours on Thursday, Wright obtained a long gun rifle which he pointed at one of the girls while he was shouting, police say.
After accompanying the minors outside the residence, a male subject saw the girls and asked if they needed help. The girls told the man they wanted to leave the home and were afraid. At that point, the man called the girls a taxi.
When the taxi cab arrived, the two girls ran to the awaiting cab and told the driver what had happened.
Bartow Police were then notified and began to investigate.
Detectives were able to identify Wright as the suspect in this case and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Wright was located at his home around 6 p.m. and was arrested without incident.
Wright was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Weapon, Interfering with Child Custody, False Imprisonment and Assault.
DCF was notified and the minors were reunited with their parents.
