Man Found Stripped and Handcuffed to Pole, Lantzville

Police are not getting much cooperation from a male they found in Lantzville yesterday morning; he was stripped to his underwear and handcuffed to a pole.

Nearby residents on their way to work called police shortly before 8 AM to report seeing a male who appeared to be in distress and handcuffed to a telephone pole on Lorenzo Lane in upper Lantzville .

Police officers arrived a few minutes later and quickly covered the shivering male with a blanket then removed the handcuffs from his wrists. The 24 year old male was exhibiting obvious signs of hypothermia. EHS was called and transported him to hospital for treatment.

The male victim told police a bizarre story. He said he was leaving his friend’s home on Wakesiah Ave on Monday night around midnight when he was hit over the head with a bat or piece of wood. A bag was thrown over his head as he was being pushed into a red/silver pickup by three males who proceeded to beat him with sticks and their fists while he was in the truck. The next thing he knew, he was thrown out of the truck, led a short distance away then felt handcuffs being placed on his wrists. All of his clothing except his boxers were then removed. His wallet was taken and the males then drove away.

The male was treated at hospital for mild hypothermia then later released. He refused to tell police who the males were that kidnapped, beat then robbed him and would not say what the motive was for their actions. “This incident has all the earmarks of violence associated to the drug culture. If you are involved in drugs, either directly or through passive associations, you run the risk of being targeted and could be seriously injured or worse. The only positive thing that came out of this incident for our victim is that he did not die or receive any injuries that require long term hospitalization,” said Constable Gary O’Brien, media spokesperson for the Nanaimo RCMP.