Gwinnett police are investigating after a man said he was kidnapped from an apartment complex early Wednesday.
Officers responded to the report around 6:15 a.m. at the Bridgewater Apartments at 1500 Ridge Brook Trail near Duluth.
The man told authorities that he had been kidnapped about five hours earlier by two men as he got out of his car. The suspects ordered him back in his car at gunpoint, then forced him to drive on I-85 South before pulling over, he said. He was then forced into the backseat and beaten until he disclosed financial information.
One of the suspects, who was now driving the vehicle, was caught on surveillance footage at the Wells Fargo ATM at 2349 Cheshire Bridge Road attempting to use the victim’s debit and credit cards with the PIN he provided, Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said. The second suspect had remained in the backseat with the victim and earlier had attempted to burn him with a cigarette lighter to gain account access information, the man told police.
After getting money, the suspects released the victim and abandoned his vehicle at an Atlanta apartment complex and fled, Smith said. The man found his keys and drove home, where he and his brother called police.
“Although visibly injured, the victim did not wish to be taken to a hospital and remained with family,” Smith said in the news release.
Both suspects were described as males around 19 years old. One is around 6 feet tall, the other 5-7. Both have an average build. Only one could be seen in the photos released by Gwinnett police.
Anyone with information on the case should call Gwinnett police at 770-513-5326 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Tipsters, who can remain anonymous, are eligible for a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
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