LCSD
BRYANT, MICHAEL EUGENE

A Gilbert man is accused of kidnapping a man and a woman Wednesday and forcing them to drive to an ATM after he had an argument with the man about money.

Michael Eugene Bryant, 44, is charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of second-degree assault and battery, according to arrest warrants.

“Based on the information investigators gathered during interviews, Bryant went to the male victim’s house and assaulted him while demanding money,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “After assaulting the man, Bryant threatened to kill him and the victim’s girlfriend, who was also in the home, if they didn’t drive him to get money from an ATM.”

Bryant then forced the man and woman to drive him to the 44 Truck Stop on Pond Branch Road, according to Koon.

“The male victim told deputies he went inside the truck stop and called 911 while Bryant and the female victim waited outside,” Koon said. “That was our first call about the situation and we responded to begin our investigation.”

Bryant was arrested without incident at the truck stop. Deputies transported him to the Lexington County Detention Center, where he’s being held after a judge denied bond.