A Harford County man and his eldest son are facing charges in connection with a kidnapping, in which the victim was forced into a truck, then beaten and left on a Bel Air dirt road Friday night, authorities said.
In what investigators say is an unrelated incident, the man's second son is wanted by the Harford County Sheriff's Office in a shooting that occurred at a Belcamp Waffle House restaurant early Saturday.
"We don't think there is a correlation at all between the two of them," said Sgt. David Betz, spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office, of the two incidents.
Betz said the kidnapping Friday stemmed from a dispute over the sale of a truck.
Johnny Bolden, 48, and his son, Justin Eugene Bolden, 25, were arrested Friday at the father's home in the 900 block of Walker St. in Aberdeen, police said.
Wardell Brooks, 52, of Bel Air, told police he was at work in the 2800 block of Forge Hill Road when he was approached by the Boldens about 5:15 p.m. Friday, according to the statement of charges. The father and son questioned Brooks about the sale of a truck and then told him they would shoot him if he did not get in the vehicle, said the charges. While the son drove, the father sat behind Brooks holding a knife to his throat, said the charging documents.
The Boldens drove to a dirt road off Kalmia Road in Bel Air, where they forced Brooks out of the vehicle and punched him and beat him with branches, authorities said. When Brooks fell to the ground, they kicked his head and rib cage, and the elder Bolden attempted to cut the victim with a knife but was deflected by the victim, police said. The son tossed Brooks' shoes into the water and then the pair drove away, according to the statement of charges.
Brooks walked to a house, where he called 911 about 5:45 p.m. He was taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, authorities said.
Justin Bolden, of the 2700 block of Forge Hill Road in Bel Air, is charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, first-degree assault, armed robbery, theft and false imprisonment. He posted a $200,000 bond.
His father, charged with kidnapping and first- and second-degree assault, appeared in a bond review hearing through a video feed yesterday. He remained at the Harford County Detention Center after a District Court judge kept his bond at $200,000.
Johnny Bolden is an Army veteran and is unemployed. He had been released from prison May 8, said public defender Brian Cunningham.
