Father and son charged with kidnapping in suburban test-drive
DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — Three men have been charged and accused of kidnapping and beating a man who was attempting to sell his car.
The DuPage County State's Attorney announced Thursday that Philip Stamps, Sr., 47, his son Philip Stamps, Jr., 22, and a third man, Joevontae Dixon, 23, were charged with multiple felonies including aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated battery.
On Wednesday, police were called to the scene of a fight at a BP Gas Station at 5 East North Avenue in Lombard. Upon arrival, officers discovered the men in the fight had left the scene but an Infiniti Q45 was still at the gas station.
Investigators believe the man who owned the Infiniti met Stamps Jr. to potentially sell him the car.
According to a statement from the state's attorney, Stamps Jr. took the car for a test drive with the man while Dixon and Stamps Sr. followed behind in a minivan. Stamps Jr. pulled into the gas station and got out to inspect the car, at which time, the state's attorney says Dixon and Stamps Sr., got out of the minivan. Stamps Jr. then took the victim's briefcase out of the car, which contained approximately 40 car titles, his phone and his computer. Stamps Jr. then allegedly entered the minivan.
When the victim went into the minivan to get his belongings, the state's attorney says Stamps Jr. punched him and hit him on the head. The three men then drove away and took the victim out of the parking lot against his will. The minivan drove to Chicago with the men threatening to kill the man as they beat him with an anti-theft club device.
The state's attorney said the group forced the man to contact his family and have them Zelle money to his account.
The minivan was located in Chicago after officers conducted a traffic stop and the three men were taken into custody.
The man was taken to the hospital.
"The type of violent behavior alleged against these three defendants is extremely alarming and will not be tolerated in DuPage County," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin said in a statement. "The victim allegedly endured a severe physical beating, kidnapping and three hours of terror inflicted upon him by these three defendants. I thank the Lombard Police Department for their outstanding work in identifying the individuals allegedly responsible for kidnapping, beating and robbing an innocent man. I also thank the Elmhurst and Chicago Police Departments, the Office of Homeland Security and the FBI for their assistance in the apprehension of the defendants, as well as Assistant State's Attorneys Adam Frahm and Michael Paup for their work in securing charges against these three men."
The three men are due in court on December 2.
