Three arrested for allegedly confining, torturing man

Robert Hollins IV Eddie Guyton Alexus Guerrero
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Three people were arrested for allegedly confining a man and torturing him for several hours before he escaped, according to the South Bend Police Department.

On March 22, officers began investigating reports of a male who was robbed, confined, battered, intimidated and strangled by four people inside a home in the 1200 block of Wilber St.

The victim said one of the suspects invited him to the house to pick up food and heroin.

When he got inside, he was ambushed, reports said.

According to the victim, two of the suspects had firearms.

One of them pointed a gun at the victim, threatened to shoot him, then fired a shot over his head, according to reports.

The victim was forced into the basement, where he was bound with ropes, chains and/or cords and beaten with wood and an electrical cord, police reports said.

The electrical cord was later used to strangle the victim, reports said.

When officers found the victim, he allegedly still had the cord wrapped around his neck.

For approximately five hours, the victim was allegedly tortured, being burned with a cigar and waterboarded.

His phone was also taken away, reports said.

Once the victim could escape the bindings, he ran to a nearby home to call police.

In addition to the cord around his neck, police said the victim also had a shirt around him, which the victim said was used to gag him.

The victim was taken to the hospital for numerous injuries.

Through the investigation, police identified three victims in connection with the incident.

The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office filed charges against the following people, all of whom are known by the victim, on Thursday:

Robert Hollins IV (35):

  • Criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon
  • Criminal confinement with moderate bodily injury
  • Robbery resulting in bodily injury
  • Armed robbery
  • Intimidation
  • Battery resulting in moderate bodily injury
  • Pointing a firearm at another
  • Unlawful carrying of a handgun
  • Unlawful carrying of a handgun- prior felony conviction within the last 15 years

Eddie Guyton (24):

  • Criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon
  • Criminal confinement with moderate bodily injury
  • Robbery resulting in bodily injury
  • Armed robbery
  • Battery resulting in moderate bodily injury
  • Strangulation

Alexus Guerrero (26)

  • Criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon
  • Criminal confinement with moderate bodily injury
  • Robbery resulting in bodily injury
  • Armed robbery
  • Battery resulting in moderate bodily injury

All three are being held at the St. Joseph County Jail. 

Police continue to investigate the incident. 

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