Three charged with kidnapping

BAZETTA — Three men were scheduled for arraignment today in Central District Court on kidnapping charges, after police say they held a couple hostage for three days to collect a drug debt.

Charged with kidnapping are Joshua Richards, 25, of Autumn Drive, Warren; Marcus Scotland, 36, of Willard Avenue, Warren; and Thomas Holbrook, 22, of Butler Avenue, Niles.

They are being held without bond in the Trumbull County Jail.

Township Police Chief Charles Sayers, who likened the episode to a bad movie, said the three were arrested Monday without incident.

Sayers said the men took the 55-year-old homeowner and his wife, 45, hostage Saturday at the couple’s Bazetta Road home. He explained that they wanted the male homeowner to get money he owed to them from his mother, who lives next door.

The chief said he is uncertain how much money was involved. He said there were no weapons in the house, but declined to comment when asked if the men were armed.

The couple were not bound while being held hostage.

The homeowner, the chief said, managed to slip out of his house and went to his mother to get money. After her son left, she called 911 shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Police surrounded the house, the men emerged and were taken into custody, Sayers said.