A Florida man is in custody after breaking through this side door and allegedly abducting an elderly man from Prestige Gardens on Plum Street in Marysville. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
A local man is safe this morning following an apparent abduction.
Deputy Chief Tony Brooks of the Marysville Division of Police said that police received a call at 2:42 p.m. Tuesday from Prestige Gardens, a rehabilitation and nursing facility, at 755 S. Plum St. The caller reported, “basically an abduction,” Brooks said.
He said a man broke through the home’s glass front door and removed a 65-year-old man. Police said they don’t believe the man made any attempt to hide his face or identity from witnesses or potential cameras. The caller said the man got into a gold Jeep Cherokee and drove away.
“While the officers were responding to the scene, officers spotted the suspect vehicle,” Brooks said.
The vehicle was pulled over near the intersection of Fifth and Poplar streets in Marysville.
“They found two male suspects and the victim,” Brooks said.
The suspects were taken into custody “without incident,” Brooks said. He said the men were not armed at the time of the arrest.
The victim was transported to Memorial Hospital and released to a guardian.
Brooks said Gage Tylor Whaley, 24, was arrested, charged with one count of felony vandalism. Whaley was arraigned this morning and bond was set at $25,000. The other man was not charged.
Whaley had “lacerations as a result of breaking through the glass door,” Brooks said, adding that he did not want medical attention.
Brooks said Whaley has a Florida driver’s license, which could lead to their connection to the victim. He said the suspects “knew him, but they were not related to him,”
“They were apparently friends or knew an alleged granddaughter who lives in Florida, but I am not sure we have established that she is an actual blood relative,” Brooks said.
He said the case remains under investigation.
The deputy chief said the men, “had no cause or justification to have custody of him.”
“The motive behind this will certainly be part of the investigation,” Brooks said.
As part of the investigation, prosecutors will review the case for possible additional charges.