Two Northfield Men Charged With Kidnapping Dover Resident, Demanding $25K Transfer
Two men from Northfield are facing serious charges after Morris County prosecutors say they kidnapped a Dover resident right outside their own home, and it was a smartwatch that helped bring the whole incident down.
How an Apple Watch Blew Up Their Alleged Plans
According to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, on Thursday morning, March 19th, an Apple iWatch belonging to a Dover resident sent an emergency SOS notification to Dover police dispatch.
Officers with that department conducted a welfare check at that home and found that the watch's owner was not there, but their vehicle was.
The victim's iWatch was found on a street about a mile away, and it appeared to have been damaged from being forcefully removed.
Authorities said an investigation identified a suspect vehicle, which was traced to Elizabeth. Officers found that vehicle and two suspects, 37-year-old Siquaya F. Smith and 40-year-old Louis G. Cadet, both from Northfield, were taken into custody.
Victim Found Injured
The victim, found in the back seat, sustained a head laceration, broken ribs, and other injuries and was treated at an area hospital before being released.
Further investigation determined that Smith and Cadet drove to the victim’s residence, and while the victim was on their way to work, forced them into their vehicle. The victim was placed in the back of the vehicle, driven to an unidentified location, and allegedly threatened by the defendants to contact their financial institutions to transfer $25,000 to the defendants.
Investigators believe this was a targeted attack. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.
Charges Smith and Cadet Are Now Facing
On Friday, Smith and Cadet were both charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and two counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. They are both being held in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings.
Prosecutor Speaks
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said in a statement, "Thanks to rapid response by law enforcement aided by new technology in Morris and Union counties, we were able to locate the victim and bring an end to this dangerous situation in a matter of hours."
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at (973) 285-6200.
The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com .
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