Newtonville man beaten, robbed and kidnapped from his home

By News Staff

Durham police have arrested one person and are looking for another after a 57-year-old Newtonville man was beaten, kidnapped and forced to cash a cheque at a Bowmanville bank on Tuesday.

According to police, the man answered a knock on the door of his home at 1 a.m. and allowed a woman he was familiar with and her male companion to enter his home. The pair proceeded to assault the man and took his wallet. The suspects would not allow the man to escape his home, allegedly striking him with a baseball bat.

At 9:30 Tuesday morning, the female suspect drove the man to a bank, where she forced him to cash a cheque. The man was able to alert bank employees that he was in trouble. The bank contacted police, who began their investigation.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. the victim was able to escape and contact police when the suspects went to a hotel in Whitby. A nearby officer was able to apprehend the male suspect without incident.

Jamie Swerdfinger, 42, of Newcastle has been charged with forcible confinement, kidnapping, assault causing bodily harm and robbery without violence among other charges.

Police are still searching for Heidi Madeiros,35, of no fixed address. She is described as a white female, five-foot-four with a slim build. She may be driving a 2005 black Dodge Caravan.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Det. Const. Snow (ext. 1605) or Det. Findlay (ext. 1650) of the East Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520.

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