| Updated: 10/26/2009 8:45 pm |
Published: 10/26/2009 3:47 pm |
A Malvern man claims someone kidnapped him, beat him and then left him in the woods. But, it is what he told police the kidnapper said that leads officers to believe this all happened because of a child abuse investigation.
A Mavlern man, whose name is not being released, told police he was at a gas station when a car drove up; three men got out and forced him inside at gunpoint.
"He was struck one time. The people that took him threatened to kill him," says Lieutenant Bernie Jack Mosley with Malvern Police.
They drove him about 20 miles to the town of Tulip. When they got there the victim told him he just knew he was about to get shot so he started begging for his life, he says the kidnapper then threw him out in the woods and told him to walk back to town. He caught a ride and called police once he got to town.
He told officers that during the ride the kidnappers said, ”You messed with a child, we're going to take care of you tonight." Mosley says, "There is an allegation into a previous incident of abuse of a minor.”
Mosley says because the Department of Human Services is investigating the victim for child abuse charges this incident is likely an act of retaliation. Police have a person of interest in this case because the victim says the name of one kidnapper is "Phil" and he has a gold tooth.
"Should we get him in custody and arrest him, it'll take one more dangerous person off the streets," says Mosley.
The incident happened at the Fina gas station on South Main Street in Malvern around 6:15 Friday evening. The victim says the kidnappers drove a green Ford Taurus station wagon. If you have any information about this case call Malvern Police.
