Man tries to get inside car with children inside, terrifies family

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man after he attempted to enter a family’s car while their children were inside.

Saturday, Sept. 4, the sheriff’s office says it received a call about a man staring at the family from the end of their driveway. This happened along Persay Drive, east of Punta Gorda, in Charlotte County.

Christine Martinez was visiting the neighborhood on Tuesday and was shocked to find out something like that had happened here. “Something like that being provoked by someone that you know with my family there you know I think I may have I don’t know what I would have done,” she said.

The suspect, later identified as Christopher Kyle Holloway, was said to be pacing about in the driveway, mumbling that God had sent him to the family’s home.

Obviously terrified, the parents put their two children in the car and locked the doors for their safety. Once the woman and children were inside the car, Holloway, 35, began pulling on the passenger side door forcefully. He was attempting to get inside.

The woman was able to reverse out of the driveway and meet Charlotte County deputies down the road while the other victim stayed at the house. While the woman was speaking with deputies, additional deputies arrived at the home.

The homeowner spoke with those deputies once they arrived and he said after the woman left with her children, the suspect walked into his garage and began spraying his yard with weed killer. The victim says he kept his distance. The victim says Holloway then went across the street and began spraying the neighbors’ yard.

After that, the suspect got onto a bicycle and approached CCSO deputies. While he was talking to deputies, they determined Holloway’s behavior was consistent with illegal drug use.

Deputies also spoke with associates of the suspect and believe that he was under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of the incident. They say he had left his residence the night before and hadn’t been seen since.

Holloway was cleared by medical staff before being transported to the Charlotte County Jail, where he’s currently being held. Holloway faces charges of burglary of an occupied conveyance unarmed, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling unarmed and second-degree petit theft, first offense. Bond for Holloway has been set at $23,000.