Four people are accused of a kidnapping in Orillia after a man was found dumped in a box, bound and beaten, earlier this month.
Ontario Provincial Police say officers from their Orillia detachment responded to a disturbance call on the Rail Trail – a 28 km recreational trail – off James St. W. just before 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 12.
“Witnesses reported hearing a voice yell for help,” acting Sgt. Gilles Doiron said in a statement released Saturday. “Upon arriving at scene, officers located the victim who had been placed into a plastic box, bound with rope and had signs of being recently assaulted.”
The responding officers provided first aid until paramedics arrived on scene to take over.
“The victim was transported to a local hospital, and later to a Toronto-area hospital for further medical treatment,” Doiron said of the abducted Orillia man.
Members of the Major Crime Unit, as well as the Forensic officers, investigated and ultimately executed a search warrant at a residence on Moffat St. in Orillia.
As a result of the investigation, four suspects were subsequently identified and arrested.
Ryan Mars, 38, of Orillia, is charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping, forcible confinement, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, attempt to obstruct justice, and failure to comply with a probation order.
Ashley Newman, 38, of Orillia, is charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and forcible confinement.
Daniel Boonstra, 32, of Orillia, is charged with kidnapping.
Bronson Ritchie, 34, of Orillia, is charged with kidnapping, failure to comply with a release order, and failure to comply with a probation order.
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The accused were all held in custody awaiting bail hearings in an Orillia court.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).