A Brooksville man was taken into custody for allegedly kidapping and robbing a foreign businessman.
Patrick Roby, 39, 102 Phillip Loop St., is expected to be charged with robbery and kidnapping Tuesday, according to a press release from the Columbus Police Department. CPD officers arrested Roby at a local motel Monday night after the victim called police.
Roby allegedly approached the victim, a man visiting Columbus from Japan on a business trip, in the Leigh Mall parking lot at about 6 p.m. Roby got into the passenger seat of the victim’s rental car and tried to tell the victim where to drive, but the victim didn’t understand Roby’s demands because of a language barrier, according to the press release. Finally Roby swapped seats with the victim and drove to an ATM where he allegedly forced the victim to withdraw cash and give it to him. About an hour and a half later, Roby forced the victim to use his credit card to rent a room at a local motel.
The victim rented the room and then called CPD.
The victim is unharmed, according to the press release.
Though Roby never showed any kind of weapon, the victim was in fear of personal injury during the alleged kidnapping, the press release said.
Macon Police Department also has a warrant out for Roby’s arrest for robbery, Macon police Chief Lucious Mason confirmed.
Roby is currently in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center, and his bond for the CPD charges has not yet been set.
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