A man has been arrested and police are searching for a female suspect after a man was robbed and abducted from his home in Newtonville, Ont., just west of Port Hope.
Police say a 57-year-old Newtonville man answered his door around 1 a.m. on Sept. 1, after a male and female knocked at the door. The male and female suspect entered the home, and the victim was then assaulted and robbed, police say.
According to police, the victim was struck with a baseball bat when he tried to escape the home. The victim was forced to remain with the suspects until he was driven to a Bowmanville bank at 9:30 a.m., police say.
According to police, the man was escorted into the bank and was forced to cash a cheque. Police say as the man was leaving, he was able to notify the bank that he was in need of help.
The bank alerted police and investigators began searching for the victim and suspects.
Police say at 11:30 a.m., the victim was able to flee and call police from a motel in Whitby. An officer in the area of the motel spotted a taxi leaving the premise and stopped it. The male suspect was arrested without incident, police say.
The female suspect, who is still outstanding, has been identified as 35-year-old Heidi Madeiros. Police describe her as white, 35-year-old, 5’4” tall with a slim build. Police say she may be driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan.
The male suspect, 42-year-old Jamie Swerdfiger, was arrested and faces seven charges including forcible confinement and assault causing bodily harm.
Anyone with new information to this investigation is asked to contact police at 1-888-579-1520 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
