Stuart Police, along with Deputies from Adair and Guthrie County, responded at around 1-p.m. Saturday, to the reported assault of a kidnapping victim.  Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater said Monday, the suspect, 32-year old James Scott Smith, Jr., of Mexico, NY, was being held in the Adair County Jail on $1-million, $10,000 bond ($1,010,000.00), on charges that include Domestic Assault with a weapon/1st offense, Harassment in the 1st Degree, Kidnapping in the 1st Degree, and Obstruction of Emergency Communication.

Vandewater says at around 12:44-p.m., Saturday, Guthrie County Dispatch notified Stuart Police Officer Katherine Guisinger, that a female, Amber Leigh Garrison, of Smyrna, NY,  was inside the Stuart Casey’s Store. Garrison said she had been assaulted and held by Smith in a Peterbilt semi-truck cab, since approximately July 20th. She said Smith picked her up at a truck stop in Pennsylvania, after the two made contact on a dating site (Plenty of Fish). The woman said once she got in the semi’s cab, she was not allowed to leave.

Garrison said she was also not allowed to use her cellphone or contact her family, until Smith realized she was listed as a missing person through the State of New York. After he saw her missing person flyers on Facebook, Smith told Garrison to call her mother, and tell her Garrison was not missing. Smith also ordered Garrison to e-mail a New York Trooper, Vincent Rinaldo, and tell him the same thing.

The morning of Aug. 31st, Garrison called 911 and put the cellphone under the seat, so Smith wouldn’t know she was calling. After the third 911 call, Smith realized what was going on, and terminated the call. He then allegedly held her in the cab against her will for about an hour, beat her and held a knife towards her. Garrison said Smith threatened to kill her and himself.

Adair County Dispatch 911 records show there were numerous 911 calls placed Saturday morning, beginning at around 9:50-a.m., where a female voice could be heard, asking someone to “drop the knife.” Due to the fact the female caller never spoke with dispatch, they were unable to get an exact location where she was.

When Officer Guisinger arrived at the Stuart Casey’s Store, she made contact with Garrison, who identified the truck she had been held in. She said also, that Smith let her go only after she promised him he wouldn’t call police. The Officer noted Garrison had visible injuries on numerous location of her upper body, including blood coming from her nose. She also complained about a possible infection caused by Smith allegedly having forced her to be tattooed. Garrison was transported to the Adair County Hospital in Greenfield, for treatment of her injuries.

Smith said their relationship was consensual. Authorities say the case remains an open and ongoing investigation, which involves several alleged crimes in multiple states.