Kingsport Man Charged with Kidnapping Over Facebook Dispute

Kingsport Times-News — September 26, 2011

On September 24, 2011, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office responded to Holston Valley Medical Center where Tiffany Hopson reported being held captive and assaulted at a residence on Snapps Ferry Road in Kingsport.

Hopson stated that the incident began the previous evening when her boyfriend, Jose Valeriano, 40, of the same address, became enraged upon seeing a man’s profile on her Facebook page. Valeriano allegedly drew a gun and knife, refused to let her leave, and struck her in the head multiple times with the firearm, causing it to discharge on one occasion. Hopson escaped while Valeriano slept.

Valeriano was located during a traffic stop on Cox Hollow Road and arrested. He was charged with:

• Aggravated kidnapping
• Aggravated assault
• Felony reckless endangerment

Update: Additional reports indicated Hopson was arrested outside the hospital on an unrelated failure-to-appear warrant.

Source: Kingsport Times-News, September 26, 2011