York Regional Police say a 37-year-old man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with the violent armed kidnapping of a 22-year-old Chinese national in Markham last month has surrendered to police.
Police said Wanzhen Lu was kidnapped on March 23 at around 6 p.m. in an underground condominium parking garage located at 15 Water Walk Dr. near Highway 7 and Birchmount Road.
Investigators said the victim was walking with a female friend when three men, one of whom was armed with a conductive energy weapon, exited a black Dodge Caravan and grabbed him.
According to police, surveillance video from the building captured Lu being shocked multiple times with the stun gun and then forced into the van.
Officers confirmed on Tuesday that a ransom demand was made “late in the investigation,” but would not provide any additional information.
Lu was located safe three days later in Gravenhurst, Ont., a rural community north of Toronto.
Const. Andy Pattenden said the suspect, Abdullahi Adan of Toronto, turned himself in to police overnight.
He has been charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and assault.
The accused made a brief court appearance in a Newmarket court on Tuesday and had his bail hearing postponed until Friday.
VIDEO: Missing Markham student reunited with family, school and community express relief
Adan’s lawyer told the media outside the courthouse that it is important that the public “keep an open mind” regarding her client’s case.
“The presumption of innocence is the golden thread the runs through our justice system and what that means is we’re not a police state and we don’t judge cases through the media,” Susan Pennypacker said.
Pennypacker said she also needs to look into the matter of other charges against her client unrelated to this case.
“There’s additional information that I need to obtain before I proceed,” she said.
Police said investigators are still on the hunt for three other male suspects involved in the kidnapping.
“I can tell you our investigators have been working very, very hard on this investigation and it’s only a matter of time before these three additional suspects are identified. So we’re encouraging them now to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in right away,” Const. Andy Pattenden said.
“This investigation has progressed very quickly. I can tell you it’s because of the pressure that’s been put on by the media, from social media, from our investigative teams who have been working tirelessly on this case, so that pressure resulted with Mr. Lu showing up in Gravenhurst unharmed, thankfully.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7865, or if they are spotted to call 911.
VIDEO: Homeowner in Gravenhurst describes how he located kidnapping victim Wanzhen Lu
— With a file from Shallima Maharaj and Nick Westoll