STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A 38-year-old man from Florida was charged with 12 felonies Tuesday, Oct. 24, in connection with the abduction of a 24-year-old man from Shelby Township.
Update: Florida man charged with 12 felonies in violent Shelby Township kidnapping case
“I’ve been here 16 years and I don’t think we ever had a true kidnapping like this,” said Sgt. Mark Benedettini, with the Shelby Township Police Department.
Authorities said they found the victim tied up in the back of a crashed pickup truck in Sterling Heights after a police chase Monday, Oct. 23.
Police said he was taken by four armed men wearing ski masks from the parking lot of the Lifetime Fitness on Lakeside Boulevard at about 7 p.m.
He was tied up and forced into the back of his own black pick up truck. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said the suspect allegedly tortured the victim, drove to his house and entered his residence.
Officers with the Sterling Heights Police Department arrived at the victim’s home and the suspects fled. After a chase, police said the truck crashed near 15 Mile Road and Maple Lane. All four suspect fled on foot, but one of the suspects were taken into custody almost immediately.
The suspect, a 38-year-old man from Florida, was charged with 12 felonies, including carjacking, armed robbery, torture, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, felony firearm and more.
“This is not an everyday occurrence with these kidnappings,” Benedettini said.
The other three suspects remain at large. Police are vowing to find the other men responsible.
“Our detectives have been working throughout the day with search warrants,” Benedettini said. “It’s still a very active investigation.”
Police said the victim and a gun were recovered from the crashed vehicle. They don’t believe the incident was random.
“We feel this victim was targeted by these four individuals,” Benedettini said. “We can’t really get into the reason why at this point, but we’re very confident this was not a random act.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shelby Township Police Department at 586-731-2121.
