Investigators requested a search warrant for the banking information of a Chevrolet salesman accused of kidnapping a disabled man in Tennessee, taking nearly $200,000 from his accounts.
An affidavit by Chattanooga Police Officer Matthew Hennessee seeks a warrant to seize the bank account of Daniel Bryant, a salesman for Mountain View Chevrolet, as part of the investigation, according to court documents.
Bryant has not been charged in the case.
Documents show that police were called to a Chattanooga bank Thursday in response to a report of a kidnapping and spoke to a man on the scene. The victim, whose leg is amputated and who is paralyzed on one side from a work accident, told officers that he had been taken against his will and forced to withdraw thousands of dollars from his bank account.
The victim said he took his vehicle to the dealership for service on Monday, and Bryant offered to drive him home. Over the course of two days, the victim said, Bryant held him against his will and transported him to several bank branches in the area, forcing him to withdraw money from his account.
The victim said he took out nearly $200,000 in cash and cashier's checks made out to Bryant under fear of death.
The victim also said Bryant took him to a hotel in Georgia and took his cell phone and credit cards. Bryant is also accused of forcing the victim to smoke crack cocaine.
It's unclear whether Bryant has been arrested or whether authorities know his whereabouts. Neither local nor federal authorities could be reached by Automotive News for further comment.
