Police: Penn Hills kidnapping victim released after assailants realize he's the wrong guy

Penn Hills police said a man was kidnapped at a business along Verona Road and released a few streets away when the alleged assailants realized they had the wrong guy.

The incident took place around 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Verona Car Spa in Penn Hills.

Police Chief Howard Burton said a man pulled into the car wash and detailing shop seeking help to get gas for his vehicle.

He said one of the employees closing up for the night went with that person, and two other unidentified men showed up when they returned.

“They did run up and get gas and came back,” Burton said. “When they came back, two guys came out of nowhere, grabbed one of the guys, accused him of being somebody he wasn’t and didn’t believe him. They ended up zip-tying him and taking him out of there.”

At least one other person at the car spa was zip-tied, too.

Burton said the alleged kidnappers released the man after realizing he was the wrong target, and let him out along Sycamore Drive near Saltsburg Road.

Detectives said a good Samaritan came by the business and freed the other tied up person.

A police alert for a red Jaguar with tinted windows believed to have been used in connection with the kidnapping in Penn Hills went out over emergency radio. Detectives could not confirm if that vehicle was found.

Burton said no injuries were reported, but the kidnappers took the victim’s cell phone. Information about possible suspects was not released.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Penn Hills police at 412-342-1188.