A James City County woman has been arrested after she allegedly followed a man’s car into a church parking lot early Tuesday morning, threatened him with an airsoft gun and smashed his windshield with a baseball bat, police say.
Dawanaca Brown, 35, of Toano, is facing several charges after police responded to an incident in the parking lot of the Life Church on Longhill Road around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to James City County Police spokeswoman Stephanie Williams.
She is charged with abduction, brandishing a firearm, trespassing on church property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, destruction of property and domestic assault and battery.
Police believe Brown saw the victim – a man who she knew – at a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store Tuesday morning, and began following him on Longhill Road in her vehicle.
The man tried to get away from her by pulling into the parking lot of the Life Church, located in the 4400 block of Longhill Road, and turning off his headlights, Williams said.
Brown drove into the parking lot, and blocked his vehicle with her car. She got out of her car and brandished a handgun at the victim, Williams said.
The man was able to flee in his vehicle, but Brown chased him through the parking lot in her car, ending with the victim attempting to go over a curb with his vehicle and getting stuck, Williams said.
Brown took a different route, going onto the lawn via Longhill Road, and pulled her car up to the victim’s car. She got out of her car with a baseball bat and struck his windshield, breaking it, police said.
Police responded to the scene to find the two cars stuck in the mud in front of the church. The gun was found later by church staff, and identified to be an airsoft gun.
Police believe Brown and the victim were arguing about money.
Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court records show Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding in 2004. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but 1 year and 3 months suspended. She was on probation for ten years.
Brown is scheduled to appear in the Williamsburg-James City County General District Court March 24 at 9:01 a.m.
