TORONTO — Police have charged a 42-year-old Newcastle, Ont. man and are searching for a female suspect after a man was allegedly kidnapped from his home, beaten with a baseball bat and robbed.
Durham Regional Police said a 57-year-old Clarington, Ont. man answered a knock at his door on Tuesday at 1 a.m. A man and a woman, who was known to the victim, then entered his home.
The pair then allegedly assaulted the victim and robbed him of his wallet. Police said they would not allow him to leave his home, before allegedly striking him with a baseball bat when he tried to escape.
Police said the suspects held the victim overnight and drove him to a bank in Bowmanville at 9:30 a.m. The woman then allegedly escorted the victim into the bank and forced him to cash a cheque, according to police.
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As he was leaving the bank, police said the victim alerted bank employees that he was in trouble and they in turn contacted the police who began a search for the suspects and the victim.
Police said the victim was then able to escape from the suspect’s custody and contact police at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, when they arrived at a motel in Whitby.
An officer in the area spotted a taxi leaving the area and stopped it and one of the suspect’s was arrested and charged without incident.
The female suspect in the alleged kidnapping has not been located and police have issued a warrant for her arrest.
Jamie Swerdfiger, 42, of King Avenue in Newcastle, and Heidi Madeiros, 35, are jointly charged with forcible confinement, kidnapping, assault causing bodily harm and robbery with violence.
Swerdfiger is also charged with driving while disqualified, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and fail to comply with probation order. He was held for a bail hearing.
Madeiros is described by police as female, white, 35 years old, and 5’4″ tall with a slim build. She may be driving a 2005 black Dodge Caravan.
Sgt. Bill Calder said the case was “unusual” and that Madeiros is known to police and investigators are actively looking for her. The victim was treated for minor injuries and is recovering.
Anyone with new information to this investigation is asked to contact Det.-Cst. Snow (ext. 1605) or Det. Findlay (ext. 1650) of the East Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at http://www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.
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