SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 22-year-old Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with the violent kidnapping of a Shelby Township man.
Police said a 24-year-old Shelby Township man was kidnapped by several armed, masked men in the parking lot of a Lifetime Fitness on Lakeside Boulevard on Oct. 23, 2023. The victim was found tied up in the back of a crashed pickup truck in Sterling Heights after a police chase.
Police said he had been tied up and forced into the back of his own black pickup truck. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said the suspects tortured the victim, drove to his house, and entered the home.
When Sterling Heights police arrived at the victim’s home, the suspects fled with the victim in the back of the truck. Police said the truck crashed near 15 Mile Road and Maple Lane. All four suspects fled on foot, but one was arrested immediately.
The first man to be charged is a 38-year-old man from Florida. He was charged with 12 felonies, including carjacking, armed robbery, torture, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, felony firearm and more.
The second man to be charged has been identified as Angel Pantoja, 22, from Tampa, Florida. He was arraigned on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, on the following charges: Carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, torture, unlawful imprisonment, conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment, and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion.
Pantoja was given a bond in the amount of $3,000,000 cash only (no 10%).
Shelby Township detectives have also obtained warrants for two other suspects. Those two other suspects are also in custody awaiting extradition back to Michigan to face charges.
The investigation is ongoing.
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