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Subscribe to RSSKentucky police were making a routine traffic stop when they discovered a kidnapped man locked in the trunk of the car. WAVE's Jaimie Weiss reports.
Some Louisville, Ky., police officers got the surprise of their careers when they pulled over a car with expired license plates: a man bound in the trunk.
Shawn Bloemer, 22, could hear the officers from inside the cramped space.
“I heard a voice and I could tell from his inflection of what have you that he was an officer. He came back and asked about insurance and that’s when I started kicking and punching on the hood, yelling,” Bloemer told WTSP 10 News.
Bloemer, a clerk at a local Circle K convenience store, says he was captured after his late-night shift and locked in the trunk of his own car after he discovered three people -- Brittany Elder, Trent Blye, and Joseph Davis -- trying to steal his tires. Bloemer said Blye assaulted him, along with the others.
"He started to hit me, struck me in the head, punched me in the stomach a couple of times. They shoved me headfirst into the light post," Bloemer said, according to WDRB.
The three attackers then allegedly forced Bloemer into the trunk of his vehicle with his wrists tied with a t-shirt and a towel wrapped around his head.
"Right before they closed the trunk they said, 'This isn't personal, we need your car,'" Bloemer said.
Bloemer estimates he spent nearly three hours locked in the trunk on that August night while his kidnappers drove around. At one point, he fell unconscious.
“It was really hot. I passed out a couple times,” Bloemer said.
Around 3:30 a.m., he woke up to flashing red and blue lights he could see through a crack in the taillight.
Officers Fred Wilson and Daniel Goldberg had initially flagged the vehicle for expired plates. But when Goldberg heard someone in the trunk while talking to the occupants, he realized this wouldn't be an ordinary traffic stop.
"At that point the officer became very much more aware, immediately called for backup," Bloemer said.
In the dash cam video, officers are seen pulling the kidnappers out of the car one by one and rescuing Bloemer from the trunk.
Police have arrested Elder, Blye and Davis, who allegedly purchased illegal drugs during their late-night joyride, according to WTSP 10 News. They are each charged with kidnapping, wanton endangerment, and theft of Bloemer’s car.
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Instant Idiot Karma! Good for the car owner!
There are NO routine traffic stops.
I bet I've heard the cops say that 1000 times on "COPS" :)
wow must be a slow news day for them to post a 4 month old news story. Just trying to feed peoples fears that the crime rate is worse then its ever been. Maybe we are just hearing more then we use to. forty years years ago no one outside of ky would have heard about this.
That victim was born under a lucky star; he probably would have been eventually killed. That's 3 more scumbags off the streets to make our nation a little safer. I hope they all get 20 to life.
So, did the guy who was tied up in the trunk of his own car get a citation for expired plates? (Ha Ha)
I bet he's never been happier than anyone ever to not have paid his license renewal on time.
And they didn't write the guy a ticket for expired tags? Jeez! The police are slackin!
The police got lucky but I doubt that they will even serve a year in jail as the wonderful judges will feel sorry for the tuff life these three have had to leave. Never mind how long the rap sheet is they just need one more chance to turn there life around.
white trash and a moolie.hang'em all in public and charge admission.give the proceeds to the victim.
Call me stupid.....but....what the heck is a moolie? Can I ASSUME it's not a compliment? Never heard it before.
hmmmm....2 white trash rednecks and a black guy. figure it out. time to get out of your little protected suburban lifestyle i see.
Were the criminals black?
CHRIS: If you could or would read the article....you would know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The criminals were black and white. 2 were black and white striped, and 1 was white with black spots.
:)
If this crime was committed in China these three scumbags would already be executed ! What, we have no need for capital punishment ?
One of several means of population control in China. That's why the Chinese are generally very intelligent people........
the ones dumb enough to commit crimes, ain't around any more.
wow.. how terrifying and how lucky this guy was. times like this is when you really appreciate what the police do. this guy could have been killed and probably would have been. glad this story had a good ending.
What is a guy named Goldberg doing in Kentucky?
Three more fine citizens have been scraped from the shallow end of the gene pool at least for a while.
This is 1 instance where expired plates turn out tob e a good thing!
Throw the book at these individuals. May they be very aware of their surroundings as they serve their time for this stupid act.
I believe these three are to ignorant to realize just how serious the crimes they committed really are.
Something is very odd about this story. The article states that Bloemer was in the trunk, but he (Bloemer) state that when the officer came back to ask for proof of insurance, he (Bloemer) began kicking and punching the "hood". Later in the article, Bloemer states, "It was really hot. I pass out a couple of times." So it sounds to me like he may have been in the engine compartment rather than in the trunk.
Now, I've got a 1996 Ford Ranger sitting in my driveway. I didn't renew the registration in August (coincidence) because I' selling it. (anybody want it?)
So, I think I'll drive it down and trade it in. If I get stopped by the cops, "I'll tell them I didn't register it so that if I got "truck-jacked" and the perps put me in the trunk.....the cops could pull 'em over and rescue me.
Oh, wait, I don't have a trunk.
The victim received a great Christmas present compliments of the police officers who were in the right place at the right time. So glad that this story has a happy ending. Good work officers. Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha.
Everyday I read a story on the web that makes me say "this is why I carry a gun". I know people, friends and family that don't understand why I carry a gun. I always tell them I don't want to be sitting in a cafe or any random location and have some psycho come walking in shooting people and not be able to defend myself. While the probability that something like this will happen is low, this crap happens every day to someone. It's just like wearing a seatbelt in a car when you drive. The probability that you will get in a serious collision is fairly low but still happens all the time given the number of cars on the road and the possibility that it will happen is great enough that most of us like to wear our seat belt. It's about being prepared or taking steps to make yourself safer. I carry my Glock 23 with me everywhere I go. If you wanna lock me in a trunk better come ready for a fight. People argue that's what police are for, the thing is sometimes you don't have time to wait for the cops. In fact in most recent cases where there were active shooters the cops just show up to clean up the mess.
Sooooo Does he have to pay the ticket for his expired plates? ;)
To the three stooges..this isn't personal but all three of you are going away for a very very very long time..have fun!
My girlfriend and I almost got arrested in Florida because she drove down a one way street by mistake. She was making the U-turn when I police car pulled up and she had some weed on her. I was in my 20"s and the cop was a hunk so guess what, I did a lot of smiling and he let us go. Apparently one can't just get a ticket in Florida if you"re from out of state, they have to take you in. So glad he didn't.
Three more Mensa members we have to clothe and feed.....*sigh*.....