Orange County deputies investigating after a woman said she had been ‘held against her will’

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said they responded after a woman told deputies she had been held against her will.

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Authorities were called to the scene on Saturday at the 5100 block of Barnett Place in Pine Hills.

Dozens surrounded the Pine Hills home for what turned out to be a nearly five-hour-long standoff. Deputies said the woman is safe as the investigation continues.

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On Saturday afternoon, law enforcement swarmed the home and demanded those inside get out. When they didn’t, law enforcement stepped up the request.

With a loudspeaker, deputies said, “This is the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Come out with your hands up. We’re not leaving.”

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It all started just after 2 p.m. when a woman in her 40s began banging on someone’s door and pleading for help. She said she had been held against her will and had just escaped.

When deputies arrived, they found her with minor injuries.

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It was around the same time neighbors said they saw a blue car pull up to the home. Witnesses said a child exited the vehicle and then got into a deputy’s car.

Just after that, neighbors said they saw around seven to 10 men come out with their hands behind their backs in handcuffs.

Deputies said those men told them more people were inside the house.

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Despite threats from law enforcement, nobody else came out. That’s when a special unit arrived and used a drone to check things out before forcing themselves in.

Shortly after that, two more people were escorted out.

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According to neighbors, the home is typically used as an Airbnb, and a lot of people go in and out. However, that has not been confirmed by the sheriff’s office.

Channel 9 is working to learn how many people were escorted from the house and what connection the woman had that claimed she was being held against her will. We are also waiting to hear back from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to see if anyone is facing any charges.

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