Dunnellon man accused of kidnapping, battering ex-girlfriend

A 23-year-old Dunnellon man is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint and repeatedly battered her.

On Thursday, March 27, shortly after 12 p.m., Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on N Windbreak Terrace in Dunnellon after receiving reports of a physical altercation involving a firearm, according to the arrest report.

The deputies were informed that a male suspect, later identified as Zachary James Flanagan, had entered the home while armed with a firearm and confronted his ex-girlfriend/victim. Flanagan then allegedly struck the victim’s head and torso numerous times before forcing her into his vehicle at gunpoint and fleeing the area.

The homeowner, who was inside the residence at the time of the incident, told deputies that Flanagan had left with the victim in his gray pickup truck.

A deputy managed to contact Flanagan by phone, and he agreed to meet with law enforcement at a local convenience store. When deputies arrived at the store, they found Flanagan and his truck, and he stated that he was “alone.” When asked about the incident involving the victim, Flanagan claimed that he had only gotten into an argument with her, adding that it “never became physical,” according to the report.

Flanagan further told deputies that he had confronted the victim because she had cheated on him with another man, which made him angry. After confronting the victim, he claimed to have told the victim to “get in the (expletive) truck” before driving her to his residence in Dunnelon, according to the report.

Once at his home, Flanagan claimed that he told the victim to pack her belongings and leave in her vehicle, which was parked outside. According to Flanagan’s statement, he then left his residence to meet with law enforcement at the convenience store.

Deputies responded to Flanagan’s home, where they found the front door “ajar,” and a window was “pushed in with a stool beneath it.” The victim’s vehicle was observed outside the residence, though the victim was not found, according to the report.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on the day of the incident, the victim used a phone at a local veterinary clinic to contact law enforcement. Deputies soon arrived at the business and made contact with her.

According to the victim’s statement, she had dated Flanagan since January of 2025, and she had moved into his home. However, she stated that he had broken up with her following a recent argument, and she was staying at another residence at the time of the incident.

The victim advised that she had recently been intimate with another man since she believed her relationship with Flanagan had ended. When Flanagan found out about this, he showed up at the incident location, where he allegedly confronted her at gunpoint.

During this confrontation, the victim alleged that Flanagan struck her in the head with his hands multiple times. He then allegedly grabbed her by the hair and arm, pulled her outside, and forced her into his truck, according to the report.

Once they arrived at Flanagan’s home, the victim alleged that Flanagan threatened to “shoot her.” She told deputies that Flanagan then proceeded to kick her in the head and torso before striking her in the head with a “large limb.”

The victim stated that she lost consciousness several times during the attack. According to her statement, she managed to get back onto her feet and retreated inside Flanagan’s home, where she barricaded herself inside the bathroom until he left. The report mentioned that the victim’s cellphone had been dropped at the incident location, so she went to several local gas stations before being able to use the veterinary clinic’s phone to dial 911.

A deputy noted in the report that the victim’s cellphone was later recovered in a wooded area near a residence.

While speaking with the victim, deputies observed “obvious signs of trauma” that included bruising and swelling on her face and arms, a deep laceration on top of her scalp that was “oozing blood,” and swelling and discoloration near her rib cage. The report stated that the victim had “extreme difficulty breathing” due to her injuries.

Flanagan was transported to a detention facility for an interview. After being read his Miranda rights, Flanagan admitted to owning a pistol, though he stated that he did not have the firearm during the incident. He further claimed that he “never physically battered, threatened, or otherwise harmed (the victim),” according to the report.

Following the post-Miranda interview, Flanagan was arrested and booked into Citrus County Jail. He was released from the facility on Monday, April 21, after posting bond.

Flanagan is being charged with burglary of a dwelling with a firearm, kidnapping, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Citrus County Court records show that three additional charges against Flanagan – threatening to do violence, false imprisonment, and battery causing bodily harm – have been dropped by prosecutors.

An arraignment hearing for Flanagan was held last week, and he has entered a written plea of “not guilty.” A pretrial conference is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, according to court records.