police
Man allegedly kidnapped, robbed victim at gunpoint
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
FAIRFIELD TWP. — Police are searching for a man who allegedly kidnapped a man at gunpoint from a Fairfield Twp. gas station and forced him to drive to a Hamilton bank to withdraw cash.
The suspect flagged down a 38-year-old Hamilton man as he pulled into Murphy USA gas station, 3219 Princeton Road, around 4 p.m. Thursday, May 15, according to Fairfield Twp. police. The suspect told the man he needed help because his daughter's vehicle needed a jump start.
When the man unlocked the passenger door, the suspect put his hand into his pocket, claiming to have a gun and threatening to shoot the man if he did not give him money, according to police.
The man told the suspect he only had $4 in his wallet and offered to drive him to First Financial Bank at 300 High St. in Hamilton because his bank card did not work elsewhere. Once at the bank, the man told the suspect the windows to the vehicle did not work and that the pair would need to enter the bank to withdraw any money. He and the suspect did so, allowing for a security camera inside the building to capture photos of their entrance.
After withdrawing $40 from an indoor automated teller machine, the man drove the suspect to Campbell Avenue near Seventh Street, where the suspect exited the vehicle and walked toward Dayton Street.
"Since he was on foot he could be from anywhere," said Fairfield Twp. police detective Doug Lanier. "Whether he had a vehicle on the area, we're not sure, but we're checking into that."
Lanier said the department also is processing two pieces of evidence collected from the victim's vehicle — reading glasses believed to belong to the suspect and fingerprints.
The suspect is described as on older white male, 5-foot-10-inches tall, 220 pounds, possibly in his 50s or 60s, with short, buzzed white-gray hair, wearing a Miami Dolphins ball cap, blue jean jacket, striped shirt, blue jeans and light-colored tennis shoes.
To report any information regarding this case, call (513) 785-4253.
