Pair face kidnap charges after person freed from car trunk: Sarnia police

Kidnapping forcible confinement charges after person rescued from trunk Sarnia

Two Sarnia residents face kidnapping and forcible confinement charges after two people – one trapped in the trunk – were rescued from a car Sunday, police say.

Officers were called to the Victoria and Davis streets area about 8 am, Sunday after a citizen reported seeing a person assaulted by two suspects with a bat, having their clothing removed and being forced into a vehicle, police said.

Officers pulled over a vehicle nearby and found one person in the backseat, police said in a release. “A second (person) was located in the trunk.”

Both people received medical treatment, but were not significantly injured, police said.

Two suspects were arrested, police said.

The suspects and the people rescued were known to each other, police added.

Jody Hodgert, 44, and Gordon Jelavic, 47, both of Sarnia, are charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, police said.

Hodgert also faces a Highway Traffic Act charge of driving while suspended, police said.

Both accused were held pending a bail hearing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sarnia police at 519-344-8861.

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