Man accused of holding woman captive

Police in Far North Queensland have arrested a man they say held a woman captive at gunpoint and assaulted her.

Officers had been searching for Ryan Symonds, 34, since Saturday, when a woman allegedly managed to escape from him at Mount Molloy, about 90 minutes north-west of Cairns.

In a public appeal for information on Monday, shortly before Mr Symonds's arrest, Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said the woman was allegedly "assaulted on multiple occasions" while detained against her will and went through "a harrowing experience … over a number of days".

Inspector Goan said the woman allegedly escaped on Saturday morning when she flagged down an officer in a marked car.

"We're very grateful that she is safe and assisting us with our investigations," he said.

Police said they were helping the woman with the support of other agencies.

Mr Symonds was taken into custody at Miallo, north of Port Douglas, about 4pm Monday.

Police said they seized a firearm.