A routine trash run outside a Pennsylvania home turned into a terrifying hours-long ordeal for one woman, according to police.
The incident took place late Friday night around 10 p.m. on the 700 block of Bethlehem Pike in Erdenheim, a quiet area roughly 13 miles north of Philadelphia, the Springfield Township Police Department said.
The woman had simply stepped outside to put her trash cans out and grab a few things from her car when a man suddenly approached her — armed with a knife.
Police say the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Michael Charles Gordon, robbed her at knifepoint, threatening her while she searched her car for cash to hand over.
But the nightmare didn’t end there. Authorities allege Gordon then forced the woman into her own apartment, where he took her cash and ATM card. From there, he made her get into her car and drove her to a nearby Santander Bank ATM, about a mile away.
For nearly two hours, the woman was held captive, according to police. Investigators say Gordon forced her to drive all the way to Philadelphia so he could buy drugs, then directed her to take him back to where he had parked his own car.
There was just one problem — his car had already been towed before they arrived, due to a parking complaint.
With nowhere else to go, Gordon allegedly had the woman drive him to one final location, where he finally got out of the vehicle and let her go.
Too frightened to immediately report what happened, the woman stayed silent until Monday, when a victim advocate helped her come forward to speak with detectives.
By Tuesday, police had arrested Gordon, charging him with 17 offenses — including kidnapping to facilitate a felony, kidnapping to inflict injury or terror, burglary with a person present, and robbery causing serious bodily injury.
Adding to the disturbing details, Gordon was already out on bail at the time, awaiting sentencing for a string of robberies from the previous year.
He was arraigned Tuesday and is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Prison. His next court date is set for June 23.
Police have not confirmed whether Gordon and the victim knew each other prior to the attack.
