A Toledo firefighter is facing felony charges after police say she handcuffed her boyfriend to a staircase inside her home and later refused to release him, leading to a desperate early-morning escape and a call for help.
Kenasia Guilford, 33, faces charges of abduction, burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft in connection with a series of incidents in Toledo. The alleged victim is a fellow Toledo firefighter and captain, according to local officials.
Police say the incident began Sept. 22 when the man went to Guilford’s home. Investigators allege that he initially agreed to being handcuffed to a staircase, but the situation changed when Guilford allegedly refused to unlock the restraints and allow him to leave.
The man eventually managed to get free while still wearing the handcuffs. A friend later told 911 dispatchers that the firefighter said he had to “gnaw” and fight his way out.
The friend said he received a call from the man around 4 a.m. and went to meet him. The alleged victim was still wearing the handcuffs when his friend found him, and police later had to cut them off.
According to investigators, the situation did not end when the man escaped from Guilford’s home.
Police allege Guilford took the man’s phone, car and keys before going to his residence. Officers later found her hiding inside an upstairs bedroom, according to police affidavits.
The circumstances surrounding the couple’s relationship have also become part of the case. During a court hearing, Guilford’s attorney, Richard Mitchell, described the incident as stemming from a romantic relationship and said his client had learned information that he characterized as concerning and traumatic. The attorney did not publicly provide additional details about what Guilford allegedly learned.
Guilford was arrested several days after the alleged Sept. 22 incidents.
A judge set her bond at $10,000 and ordered her to have no contact with the alleged victim or his family. She was also ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor while the case proceeds. Guilford is currently out of custody.
Guilford also works as a registered nurse at the Lucas County Jail and was placed on administrative leave following her arrest, according to local reporting. The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department has declined to comment on her employment status.
The case remains pending, and the allegations against Guilford have not been proven in court.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14, according to the latest available court reporting.
