COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - A businessman from Japan was briefly kidnapped Monday in Columbus.
Police tell local media that Patrick Lavelle Roby got in the victim’s rental car in the parking lot of the Leigh Mall. Columbus Police say Roby tried to tell the victim to drive somewhere, but the victim did not understand him because of a language barrier.
Police say Roby then got in the passenger seat and drove the victim to an ATM and forced him to withdraw money. He next forced the victim to rent a hotel room with his credit card.
Police say the businessman, who hasn’t been identified, then called 911. Police responded, arrested Roby and freed the uninjured victim.
Roby is charged with kidnapping and armed robbery. He is jailed in Lowndes County with bail of $250,000.
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