A bad drug deal motivated a man to kidnap his rival’s wife and 4-year-old daughter and ask for $50,000 ransom, according to court records released today.

The victims were not hurt during the incident, which occurred last night in Kansas City. The ransom was not paid.

Jackson County prosecutors today charged the alleged ringleader, Michael D. Gipson, 32, of Grandview, and two others with robbery, two counts of kidnapping and three counts of armed criminal action.

The others charged are Eugene I. Webb, 23, and Brandon T. Carter, 28, both of Kansas City.

Court records said Gipson had an “ongoing feud due to a bad narcotics transaction” and was angry after seeing his rival at an “after-hours” club. Gipson wanted to “get back at him,” so he started following him, watching his house, and waiting for an opportunity, according to court records.

Gipson told police that he saw an opportunity about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday when the man’s 28-year-old wife and 4-year-old daughter showed up alone at their house near 35th Street and Cleveland Avenue, court records said.

The family was moving to a house in the 3700 block of Virginia Avenue, and the wife and daughter had returned to fetch some clothes. The husband had stayed at the house on Virginia to tidy up.

The wife and daughter were surprised at the front door by Gipson, Webb and Carter — one of whom had a gun, according to court records.

The kidnappers duct-taped the mother and daughter and forced them into the mother’s car, which the kidnappers drove to the house on Virginia. The kidnappers lured the husband outside and demanded money in exchange for the woman and girl’s safe return, court records said.

“I got your family,” Gipson allegedly said to the husband. “I need that money.”

The husband ran to his car and chased the kidnappers. After the husband lost sight of them, he called 911. Police showed up and overheard someone calling the husband from his wife’s cell phone, demanding money of they would “spray” the victims.

A police helicopter helped track the suspects to a house in the 4100 block of Highland Avenue. Noise from the helicopter and police sirens spooked the suspects, who fled the house and eventually released the kidnap victims.

Police arrested three men in the area. Carter threw down the wife’s cell phone as he tried to run away from officers, court records said. Webb had the wife’s wedding ring and bracelet in his pockets, the records said.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/06/2281080/woman-girl-found-safe-after-being.html#ixzz11dJHsJg7