North Carolina man accused of kidnapping pastor at knifepoint
01/27/2022 12:23 pm PST
FLORENCE, S.C. (TCD) -- A 39-year-old man faces federal charges after allegedly kidnapping a pastor at knifepoint last month.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Southern Carolina, on Dec. 21, 2021, at approximately 10:20 a.m., Joseph Alan Wright, also known as "Wiz," of Fayetteville, N.C., allegedly abducted a pastor from the Immanuel Baptist Church in Florence at knifepoint. In the church parking lot, Wright reportedly forced the pastor into his car and sped away.
Staff from the Immanuel Baptist Church alerted police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says. Authorities reportedly tried to contact the pastor on his cellphone without success and attempted to locate him using electronic means like OnStar, cellphone providers, and bank card use records.
Upon further investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says authorities were able to locate the stolen car in Lumberton, N.C., at around 12:09 p.m. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Florence Police officers alerted the Lumberton Police Department about the incident, which then sent officers to rescue the pastor and arrest Wright.
Wright was arrested and charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of carjacking. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, if convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Wright is reportedly in federal custody at the Florence County Detention Center, and his arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 3.
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