Prosecutors in Camden County, NJ say five bounty hunters ended up on the wrong side of the law when they beat the man they were searching for and kidnapped his 17-year old friend Wednesday night.
The five bounty hunters approached Eric Webb, 38, outside his home in Chesilhurst as he and the teen exited their car.
Webb, who was wanted on a active drug warrant out of Camden County, fled in his car after the men failed to identify themselves as bounty hunters, prosecutors say. He left the teen behind, but struck one of the bounty hunters’ Dodge Avenger, which had boxed Webb’s car in, according to police reports.
Three of the bounty hunters, chased him to Waterford Township, where Webb crashed his car behind a motel. Prosecutors say they beat Webb and stole cash and his cell phone. Ralph Lemar, 34 Jovani Diaz, 25, of Philadelphia, and 32 year-old Brian Williams, of Burlington Township, are charged with aggravated assault and robbery for that incident. Their bail was set at $250,000.
The remaining two bounty hunters remained in Chesilhurst with the juvenile, where they allegedly handcuffed him, held him in the back of a car and put a knife to his neck.
Marvella Brown-Bailey, 37, of Burlington Township, and Innish Henderson, 25, are accused of taking the teen’s cash and cellphone.
They drove the teen to Lindenwold, where he eventually escaped into a nearby apartment complex. Police say he was not charged with any crime and was returned to his guardian.
Brown-Bailey was the only certified bounty hunter in the group, prosecutors say.
Brown-Bailey and Henderson are charged with kidnapping and robbery. Their bail was set at $400,000.
Webb was also found with bags of suspected heroin. He was treated at a local hospital and faces additional drug charges.
