California man ties up woman but says he was just protecting her, Arkansas police say

A California man accused of a tying up a woman and giving her only sips of water says he actually was protecting her, according to Arkansas cops.

Then when he was arrested anyway, the man tried smuggling contraband into jail by stuffing it in his body, police say.

On Sunday, Searcy County, Arkansas sheriff’s deputies went to a home because of concerns that a woman might kill herself, according to a news release.

Deputies met Frankie Carmody outside, and he told them that his girlfriend was tied up in the house because she was threatening suicide, police said. Carmody is from Yuba City, California, a city about 40 miles north of Sacramento.

The deputies said they found the woman bound with white zip ties. She told them that Carmody tied her up, and she was restrained for one or two days with nothing to eat and only sips of water, police said. She was bruised on her arms, ankles and chest, apparently from being tied up, police said.

The woman told deputies that she “had no intention” of harming herself, police said.

When asked for his identification, Carmody showed the deputies to a blue tent on the back porch, where they found two rifles and shotgun. Carmody is a felon and not allowed to possess firearms, police said.

Carmody was taken to jail. While he was being booked, Carmody was caught trying to bring a Bic lighter, marijuana and smoking tobacco into the facility by “hiding it in his body,” police said.

Carmody was charged with false imprisonment, possession of a controlled substance, possession of firearms, and furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles. He also was wanted on several arrest warrant, police said.