Kidnapping and forcible confinement charges have been laid after a west Windsor incident in which a man allegedly held another person hostage and demanded money in exchange for the victim’s freedom.
Patrol officers responded on Saturday around 10:15 a.m. to a complainant who said he received a call that his friend was being held and would only be released by the caller in exchange for cash.
The officers learned of an address where the victim was potentially being held — an apartment in the 600 block of Mill Street.
When the officers attended the unit, they could hear screaming coming from inside. They entered the apartment and found the suspect and the victim.
The suspect was arrested without further trouble. The victim was unhurt.
Investigation revealed that the accused and the victim know each other — They live in the same building.
The two had spent time together in the victim’s apartment the previous night, after which the suspect demanded money.
The victim didn’t have the money and the two parted ways. However, a few hours later, the suspect returned to the unit, seized the victim, and forced him into the suspect’s apartment.
The suspect began making threats and assaulting the victim, and called the victim’s friend with the ransom demand.
Stephen Pickup, 56, of Windsor, faces charges that include: Kidnapping, forcible confinement, extortion, uttering threats, breaking and entering, robbery, assault, and two counts of assault with a weapon.
Anyone with further information about this individual or this incident is encouraged to call detectives at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830.
Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com.