LAURINBURG –Two Robeson County men have been charged with kidnapping after Laurinburg police were called to break up a fight in the parking lot of the Walmart shopping center.
Sunday’s incident first appeared to be an altercation, but police said they soon learned that one of the men had been kidnapped in Robeson County and brought to Laurinburg.
The man, Miguel Silver, 43, of Shannon, told authorities that he was walking to his job at Mountaire Farms in Lumber Bridge at 5:40 a.m. Sunday when the driver of an SUV stopped and offered him a ride. A female passenger told the victim that she knew one of his coworkers, according to Major Anthony Thompson of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Thompson said once inside the vehicle, a passenger demanded money at gunpoint. The passenger searched Silver’s pockets and took his wallet with $60 and his bank card, according to Thompson.
Silver told authorities that the kidnappers took him to an ATM in Red Springs, but Silver gave them the wrong PIN number.
“Silver said they then went to BB&T bank and demanded the right PIN or they would kill him,” Thompson said.
The trio got $20 from that ATM and took Silver to Pembroke in an attempt to get more money.
At some point, a shirt was placed over the victim’s head as he was driven around, Thompson said.
The female was eventually dropped off in the Thunder Valley Community in Red Springs, according to Thompson.
“The men bought food, and the driver told Silver they needed more money,” Thompson said.
During the ordeal, the Silver said his kidnappers stopped to buy marijuana and continued to drive around for an unknown length of time.
When Silver was able to lift the makeshift blindfold, he realized that he was at the Laurinburg Walmart. He said he grabbed the gun from one of his captors who was asleep and the two struggled. Shoppers called police.
“We responded to Walmart about an altercation between two males with a handgun and located a Toyota SUV,” said Laurinburg Assistant Police Chief Cliff Sessoms. “The SUV attempted to flee, but punctured a tire on a curb and was stopped on 74.
“We are just glad that everybody is unharmed and the suspects are in custody.”
Lloyd Miller Jr., 25, of Westgate Terrace in Red Springs was charged with felony kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony conspiracy. He was jailed under a $100,000 bond.
Christian Ray Dial, 17, of Jonas Drive in Shannon was charged with felony kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony conspiracy. He was jailed under a $50,000 bond.
