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Springboro man suspect in abduction
New York cops say gambling losses led to abduction
By Kristin McAllister
Dayton Daily News
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
A Springboro man is being accused of abducting the owner of a Long Island sports betting business whom he blamed for losing as much as $200,000, New York police said Tuesday.
Douglas Warner, 57, of 520 Orchard Drive was held in the Suffolk County Jail in New York state after an initial court appearance Tuesday. Warner has been charged with kidnapping, robbery, attempted grand larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, unlawful wearing of a body vest and resisting arrest.
Warner drove on Sunday from his Warren County home to Oakdale, Long Island, to the parking lot of Platinum Sports Advisory, police said. Armed with a handgun, stun gun and bulletproof vest, Warner abducted George Villano, 47, owner of the sports betting business and tried to extort $200,000 from him for betting losses which he blamed on advice from Villano, said Suffolk Police Detective Lt. Edward Reilly.
Warner paid Villano between $20,000 and $40,000 for betting advice and lost up to $200,000 in Las Vegas, police said. Authorities did not specify the type of bets Warner placed or at which casinos he placed them.
Riding in Villano's car, Warner ordered Villano to his home where Villano gave Warner $4,800, police said. Villano dropped Warner off at the Sayville Motor Lodge nearby with the promise of returning to meet him in the parking lot of Villano's business on Monday morning with the rest of the money.
Villano called police, who then kept the Platinum Sports Advisory parking lot under surveillance.
At 10 a.m. Monday, police arrested Warner — wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with a stun gun — after what they described as a violent struggle in the parking lot. A loaded .380-caliber handgun was recovered from Warner's vehicle, police said.
Reilly said Warner does not have a criminal record in New York state.
"And I don't think he has one in Ohio either," he said.
He said Warner is not a registered owner of a handgun in Ohio and does not have a license for one in New York state.
Warner is unemployed and a former commercial bus salesman in Ohio, Reilly said. His case is expected to go before a grand jury this week.
In Springboro, neighbors said they were shocked to hear the news about Warner. Reed Bigelow lives across the street and described Warner as friendly and a good neighbor. He said Warner routinely uses his snowblower to clear his and other neighbors' driveways without their asking for help.
"I don't know him that well, but we yell at each other because I'm a Purdue (University sports) fan and he tolerates me for that. We joke that way," Bigelow said. "But this totally shocks me. He's not, to me , a wild, crazy type of guy. I've never noticed any big parties and never noticed him to be mean or angry or anxious. He's easy going and helpful."
New York cops say gambling losses led to abduction
By Kristin McAllister
Dayton Daily News
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
A Springboro man is being accused of abducting the owner of a Long Island sports betting business whom he blamed for losing as much as $200,000, New York police said Tuesday.
Douglas Warner, 57, of 520 Orchard Drive was held in the Suffolk County Jail in New York state after an initial court appearance Tuesday. Warner has been charged with kidnapping, robbery, attempted grand larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, unlawful wearing of a body vest and resisting arrest.
Warner drove on Sunday from his Warren County home to Oakdale, Long Island, to the parking lot of Platinum Sports Advisory, police said. Armed with a handgun, stun gun and bulletproof vest, Warner abducted George Villano, 47, owner of the sports betting business and tried to extort $200,000 from him for betting losses which he blamed on advice from Villano, said Suffolk Police Detective Lt. Edward Reilly.
Warner paid Villano between $20,000 and $40,000 for betting advice and lost up to $200,000 in Las Vegas, police said. Authorities did not specify the type of bets Warner placed or at which casinos he placed them.
Riding in Villano's car, Warner ordered Villano to his home where Villano gave Warner $4,800, police said. Villano dropped Warner off at the Sayville Motor Lodge nearby with the promise of returning to meet him in the parking lot of Villano's business on Monday morning with the rest of the money.
Villano called police, who then kept the Platinum Sports Advisory parking lot under surveillance.
At 10 a.m. Monday, police arrested Warner — wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with a stun gun — after what they described as a violent struggle in the parking lot. A loaded .380-caliber handgun was recovered from Warner's vehicle, police said.
Reilly said Warner does not have a criminal record in New York state.
"And I don't think he has one in Ohio either," he said.
He said Warner is not a registered owner of a handgun in Ohio and does not have a license for one in New York state.
Warner is unemployed and a former commercial bus salesman in Ohio, Reilly said. His case is expected to go before a grand jury this week.
In Springboro, neighbors said they were shocked to hear the news about Warner. Reed Bigelow lives across the street and described Warner as friendly and a good neighbor. He said Warner routinely uses his snowblower to clear his and other neighbors' driveways without their asking for help.
"I don't know him that well, but we yell at each other because I'm a Purdue (University sports) fan and he tolerates me for that. We joke that way," Bigelow said. "But this totally shocks me. He's not, to me , a wild, crazy type of guy. I've never noticed any big parties and never noticed him to be mean or angry or anxious. He's easy going and helpful."
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