Nationwide — Kenasia Guilford, a 33-year-old African American female firefighter from Toledo, Ohio, faces several charges after police accused her of handcuffing her boyfriend, refusing to release him, taking his phone and car, and later breaking into his home. Her boyfriend is also a firefighter and a captain with the same department. A 911 call from his friend described how the man escaped from the handcuffs and sought help in the early morning hours.
The friend told a dispatcher that the firefighter arrived at his home around 4 a.m. and said his girlfriend had restrained him. According to WLBT, police say Guilford initially handcuffed the man to a staircase with his consent. Investigators allege that she later refused to let him go, leaving him unable to free himself.
The man eventually managed to escape, but the details of his struggle were unusual. His friend told 911 that the firefighter said he had to “gnaw” his way free after Guilford restrained him to a railing or similar structure. The friend did not know whether he had been injured. He picked him up and drove him away, but the man was still wearing the handcuffs when he left. Police later had to cut the restraints off.
The man also did not have his phone. His friend told the dispatcher that Guilford had taken it while he was carrying the firefighter’s backpack. The friend believed the phone may have been connected to why Guilford handcuffed him. The 911 call did not make clear how the man was able to contact his friend after losing access to his phone.
The situation did not end after the man escaped. Investigators accuse Guilford of taking his car and later going to his home. The friend said he was waiting nearby so he could help the firefighter retrieve his vehicle when he saw Guilford running down the street toward the house in the dark. While he was on the phone with his wife, she told him to call 911. Police later found Guilford hiding inside the home, according to investigators.
Guilford was arrested and appeared in court Monday, three days after her arrest. Her attorney, Richard Mitchell, said the case involved a relationship between the two firefighters and information that allegedly caused Guilford significant concern and emotional distress. A judge set her bond at $10,000 and ordered her to have no contact with the alleged victim. She must also wear an ankle monitor while the case is pending. Guilford faces multiple charges, including abduction.