Three Kidnapping Suspects Caught

JACKSONVILLE — Cherokee County authorities have arrested three kidnapping suspects. The three are accused of abducting a man from Jacksonville. The suspects are identified as Eric James Mays, 23, of Jacksonville, (pictured) Steven Dale Davis, 20, of Gallatin and Dylan Kyle Master, 19 of Troup. They were arrested walking along U.S. Highway 175.

The victim was approached by the three suspects while he was sitting in his vehicle at a residence on Washington Street Wednesday afternoon. He tells officers the three demanded he repay them the money he owed them. When he said he didn’t have the money, he was forced to remove all his clothing, except his boxer shorts, and then placed back in his car and driven to his parents house in an attempt to get money from them. The victim was not injured, but was repeatedly threatened during the ordeal.

Each man has been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a 2nd degree felony; kidnapping, a 3rd degree felony and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a state jail felony. Bonds on each man totals $55,000. Masters was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia at the time they were picked up, and was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.