CHELSEA — Two men are facing charges after allegedly kidnapping a man and holding him against his will inside a Hankerson Road home.
Ricardo David Perry, 18, from East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Eugene Charleston, 19, of Bridgeport, Conn., were arrested on charges of Class A kidnapping, said Maine State Police Lt. David Tripp. Perry and Charleston are being held without bail at the Kennebec County jail.
“There are probably additional charges coming over the next day or two,” Tripp said.
The male victim, whom police declined to identify, was reportedly in good condition.
“Based on the investigation, we believe the victim and suspects know each other,” Tripp said. He declined to offer specifics on the nature of their relationship. Tripp said it is unclear what might have motivated the alleged kidnapping.
Police responded to the home around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday when a man called and said he was being held against his will, Tripp said.
State Trooper Jon Leach arrived at the house and was able to reach the alleged victim on the phone. The caller told Leach he was unsure if he could escape the house. He said he thought his captors, who reportedly had held him captive inside the house overnight, were armed, Tripp said.
“He knew for a fact they had a knife,” Tripp said.
Moments later, Leach saw the man run out of the door chased by two other men, Tripp said.
“At that point Trooper Leach converged on them,” Tripp said.
The men fled from Leach and other troopers who gave pursuit. The men were taken into custody following a brief foot chase, Tripp said.
State Police, as well as agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Kennebec County Sheriff Deputies, spent much of Wednesday searching the home. Tripp declined to say if any drugs or weapons were uncovered during that search. He indicated additional information would be available in the next few days.
“Right now the investigation is ongoing and there are multiple agencies involved,” Tripp said.
Craig Crosby — 621-5642
ccrosby@mainetoday.com
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