Firefighter had to ‘gnaw’ his way free after being handcuffed by girlfriend, 911 call reveals

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - An Ohio firefighter appeared in court Monday, three days after her arrest for allegedly refusing to remove a man from handcuffs, stealing his car and phone, and breaking into his home.

The alleged victim is a fellow Toledo firefighter and a captain within the department.

Kenasia Guilford, 33, faces multiple charges, including abduction. The two firefighters were in a relationship, according to a 911 call.

Guilford’s attorney, Richard Mitchell, spoke in court earlier this week.

“This series of incidents stems from a paramour situation, where some information was learned by the defendant that would make anyone have substantial concern and was traumatic,” Mitchell said.

In a 911 call from the captain’s friend, the victim’s friend detailed a call for help at four in the morning.

“I had a friend call me. He showed up at my house at four, saying his girlfriend handcuffed him,” the caller said.

Police say Guilford handcuffed the man to a staircase, with his consent, but affidavits say she later refused to let him go. The caller described how his friend broke free.

“And he said he had to gnaw — she handcuffed him to some railing or something. He said he had to fight his way off of there, so he might be injured, I don’t know,” the caller said.

The caller also told dispatchers he picked up his friend and drove him home.

Investigators say Guilford stole the man’s car, broke into his house, and was later found hiding inside.

“He told me to hover around so he could go and get his keys, and I can take him to go get his truck. But as I was waiting, I see her walking down the street in the pitch dark, running toward his house. I was on the phone with my wife, and she was like, ‘You might need to call 911,’ but I don’t even know what to say,” the caller said.

The alleged victim was walking down the street still in handcuffs, according to the 911 call. Police later had to cut the handcuffs off. It’s not clear how the alleged victim was able to contact his friend in the first place.

“You said he has no phone on him?” a dispatcher asked.

“No, I got his bag. He had a bookbag on him, but she had the phone. I think that’s why he was — why she handcuffed him — to get to his phone or something like that. And that’s why he didn’t have his phone on him,” the caller said.

Monday, a judge set Guilford’s bond at $10,000, with a no-contact order, and ruled she must wear an ankle monitor while the case is pending.