BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Police Department announced that they have made four arrests in connection with a kidnapping and gang assault.
A family member contacted the police asking them to located a missing relative. They told police they believed the missing person was in an apartment on the 500 block of Virginia Street because the family had allegedly been contacted for ransom.
"Officers went in there, encountered the victim and several other individuals, but were not completely clear as to what was going on at the time," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
Police were able to locate the missing person and took them to the Northeast-district police station.
The 21-year-old victim told investigators they had been beaten, tied to a chair, and held against their will. Police say the victim told them they had their head shaved, bleached, and boiling water poured onto their body. They said they were also hit with a belt multiple times, and all of their belongings were allegedly taken.
"And tied to a chair, and then there were some other things that were done to him that, kind of torture in nature, if you will. What the investigation revealed is that most of the parties were known to each other. There was obviously an underlying reason as to why to this crime occurred. Our detectives worked on this case and within several days have made four arrests," said Commissioner Gramaglia.
The victim was taken to ECMC for their burns, welts, lacerations, and bruising.
Buffalo Police identified several alleged suspects, and four have been arrested as follows:
Raymone Wilson, 20, Savannah Brosius, 22, Daquel Braxton, 25, and Jeremiah Martin, 26, all of Buffalo have been charged identically with one count Kidnapping in the First Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree, one count of Gang Assault in the Second Degree, and one count of Robbery in the Second Degree.
"Gang assault is defined by a minimum number of people assaulting an individual and causing a certain minimum level of injury to a victim," said Commissioner Gramaglia.
Police say Wilson had allegedly been in possession of crack cocaine, and was additionally charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree.
At this point, police have an idea of what the motive was, but they aren't releasing it.
Buffalo Police continue to search for more involved suspects, and more charges may be coming.