PORT JERVIS – Police have
arrested two Port Jervis men after an early morning kidnapping in Port
Jervis.
Police Chief William Worden said they were called to the parking lot of
a senior housing complex at 230 Jersey Avenue at 12:30 a.m. on Friday
and learned the victim, a 67-year-old man, had parked his car and was
confronted by two men, one armed with a handgun.
The victim was forcibly robbed and then ordered into the trunk of his
car. He was able to free himself using an emergency trunk release while
the suspects were driving from the lot and fled to a nearby residence
where he reported the incident.
The victim sustained injuries from the assault and was transported to
Bon Secours Community Hospital for emergency treatment.
A bulletin was broadcast to area law enforcement agencies and the stolen
car was spotted around 1:38 a.m. by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies
on Route 211 in the Town of Wallkill.
They tried to stop the car, but the driver failed to comply. The deputies
pursued the vehicle for some five miles into the Town of Montgomery where
the suspects were apprehended after the car crashed and they fled on foot.
Tranelle Drake, 28, and Justin White, 28, both of Port Jervis, were both
charged with robbery, kidnapping, three counts of robbery, assault, criminal
possession of a weapon and grand larceny, all as felonies.
Drake was also charged with being a fugitive from justice from the State
of Pennsylvania for a parole violation.
Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by town police in
Wallkill and Montgomery, and State Police.
Additional charges are pending from the sheriff’s office.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the
case and assisted in the investigation.
