Man Kidnapped Pair To Make Them Steal For Him: Tewksbury Police

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury police arrested a Dracut man Tuesday and charged him with kidnapping.

Stephen Mbugua, 27 of Dracut, was charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping and other charges.

Tewksbury police were called to the Walmart at 333 Main Street for a reported shoplifting.

According to the police narrative, shoplifting suspects got in a car and tried to flee the parking lot. Police arrived and stopped Mbugua.

"A subsequent investigation revealed that Mbugua had kidnapped two male parties who were also inside of the vehicle," police said.

A gun and ammunition, crack cocaine and items stolen from the Walmart were also found in the car, police said.

Police accused Mbugua of kidnapping the two victims to force them to steal for him. They knew Mbugua and were in a financial dispute, police said.

The two victims were uninjured.

It was not a random act of violence, police said.

In addition to kidnapping, Mbugua was charged with gun possession, carrying a gun without a license, witness intimidation, threat to commit murder, unlicensed driving, possession of crack cocaine and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

He was held on $10,000 bail and was due to be arraigned at Lowell District Court Wednesday.

All people are considered innocent until proven guilty.