A woman who was seriously assaulted and held against her will by her estranged boyfriend is now safe.
Around 3:00am Wednesday, the suspect, Antonio Lamar Atkinson of Huckleberry Circle, Selma forcibly broke into the home of the 38 year-old woman on Campground Road.
The victim said Atkinson grabbed her neck and began choking her while threatening to take her life. For several hours he refused to allow her to leave the home or call for help.
Around 6:00am, the woman convinced Atkinson he had injured her during the assault and was in need of immediate medical attention. Atkinson agreed to accompany the woman to the emergency room at Johnston Medical Center.
While in a patient room, the victim was able to secretly pass a note to a nurse asking for police. Smithfield Police officers arrived on the scene and detained Atkinson in the woman’s room. During a search, cocaine was allegedly found in his possession.
Police determined the incident occurred outside their jurisdiction and notified deputies.
Atkinson was charged by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office with first degree burglary, breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, kidnapping, communicating threats, and assault on a female. Smithfield Police charged Atkinson with felony cocaine possession.
The 33 year-old suspect is being held in the Johnston County Jail under a $525,000 bond.
