A 21-year-old Lawrence man told police he was kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint just before midnight Saturday.
"They took my keys, they took my wallet, they took my phone, they had me empty out all my pockets, they took everything," said Kris Wenberg, the victim. "They had a gun to my head, told me to give the codes for the alarm, the code for the safe."
Lawrence Police Sgt. Susan Hadl said officers working Friday night responded to a call coming from the 1500 block of North 2000 Road. The call was made just before 1 a.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, Wenberg told them he had been kidnapped and robbed.
The situation happened after Wenberg left work at Long John Silver's, 1503 W. 23rd St., where works as a night manager. Police said the man told them he was jumped by two white men wearing dark clothing. He said they also had handguns. According to police reports, the suspects took Wenberg's keys to the business.
Wenberg told police he was then forced into an unidentified vehicle, knocked unconscious and dropped off in the 1500 block of North 2000 Road, which is north of Lawrence Municipal Airport and 11 miles from the scene of the alleged robbery. He was able to enter a nearby residence and call police.
"I just kind of woke up out there, my head bleeding," said Wenberg, who was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained during the incident. He had a staple put in the back of his head, where he said the suspects had hit him with a gun.
Hadl said after interviewing the victim, officers went to Long John Silver's, where they found it had been burglarized. Police reports state an undetermined amount of money was taken from the business.
It's a bizarre set of events that has Wenberg fighting for his job.
"I've had a lot of people tell me that they've thought I was part of it," he said. "I'm suspended right now until the police say that I wasn't.”
No arrests have been made and Sgt. Bill Cory, police spokesman, said officers are actively investigating the reported crimes.
Representatives from Long John Silver's weren’t available for comment on Tuesday.
Comments
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Pywacket (anonymous) says…
This sounds very fishy.
Bladerunner (anonymous) says…
Nice one Py.....lol.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
I had the same impression, py. If I were these "kidnappers," I would not drop the guy off several miles away and then go rob the restaurant.
Informed (anonymous) says…
I agree that this story sounds fishy, but I'm sure that some will swallow it, hook, line and sinker.
Seriously, though... I suspect that this was a planned robbery. And it will ultimately end very badly for the LJS employee and his accomplices.
AreUNorml (anonymous) says…
maybe there were more than two guys. they grab the guy, toss the keys to an accomplice, who robs the store for the 10-20 minutes that the victim is being driven to BFE and dropped off.
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…
hmmm.................
alm77 (anonymous) says…
If they have his cell phone, then they can track it and the evening's events, right?
ku_tailg8 (anonymous) says…
They shouldn't have kidnapped the guy because if they get caught they would just get probation. But who knows, maybe kidnapping is just like a parking ticket nowadays.
sunshine_noise (anonymous) says…
In the ole days kidnapping was life in prison and murder was automatic death penalty. No half-dozen appeals - just one appeal if you lose you snooze forever and that's the way it should be. Bring back the death penalty for murders and life in prison for kidnappers and pedophiles.
compmd (anonymous) says…
The 1300 block of West 24th == Felony Hoods Apartments.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
They didn't drag the guy across a state line, so it's not a federal case.
somedude20 (anonymous) says…
The real problem is how addictive those LJS crunchies (the little bits of batter) are. Old boy was being held ransom for em.
pace (anonymous) says…
I wonder how long it took the police to go to Long John Silvers, was immediately or was it 3-4 hours? My guess it was a couple of hours. Many of us would not rob like some of the culprits do. My bugler left his wallet. I do think that blaming the victim before the ink dries on the paper is very typical. That they are wrong in this case doesn't matter at all. They are being stupid and vile and I am sure it won't slow them down on the next strory they barely read,
devils_advocate (anonymous) says…
You would think that those people who tended to 'read' news articles would actually be smart enough not to assume, jump to conclusions before the investigators, and make ignorant comments about someone they don't know.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
walk the plank~
notjustastudent (anonymous) says…
devilsadvocate- yes you would think that, but unfortunately, you would be wrong, because the ability to read is not connected with the ability to use logic, compassion, or self-control. Not that I am 100% guilt free of such things, but I try...
hilary (anonymous) says…
How did the kidnappers know the keys were to LJS?
kmat (anonymous) says…
hilary (Anonymous) says…
How did the kidnappers know the keys were to LJS?
__________
Ever heard of anyone staking out a place to rob it. Hmmmm, you watch the guy close up shop, follow him a little bit and rob him and take the keys.
shorttrees (anonymous) says…
It was probably a very simple crime to commit. Sit in the parking lot or anywhere nearby, watching as the place closes. Notice that guy leaving and locking up is on foot rather than driving. Follow said guy with business keys to an area in which he could be mugged or kidnapped.
It all comes down to a lack of situational awareness.
jackbinkelman (anonymous) says…
I would guess it was employees who knew the vic. had keys to the restaurant, not necessarily the victim was involved. Although they should be easily identifiable, unless the perps had others do the actual kidnapping. Will be interesting to see how it turns out. And it will be solved/ closed.
ClaroAtaxia (anonymous) says…
I'll bet $10 this guy was in on it. Can the Police prove it? Stay tuned.
hilary (anonymous) says…
Sorry I'm too stupid for you, kmat. It sounded like he was randomly picked up. Someone should give you a medal for cracking the case, and busting my chops.
rousseau108 (anonymous) says…
I just hope the Journal World does a follow up story on this if/when it does come out that this guy was involved in the whole deal.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…
Pace: "Many of us would not rob like some of the culprits do. My bugler left his wallet."
What? Put down the Krabby Kocktail and try again.
srj (anonymous) says…
Very negative people! Yes faking a robbery happens once in a while, but would a guy go to all this trouble to rob, what, a months salary, at the most?
devils_advocate (anonymous) says…
Answer: Yes, he works at Long John Silvers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Now there is an ignorant statement.
autie (anonymous) says…
Arrgghh! The poor lad got his timbers shivered. Avast n be gone with ya.
garyr (anonymous) says…
Composite sketches of the two suspects....
http://www.maureena.net/Images/Captai...
http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com...
bigdave (anonymous) says…
Love the Insane clown posse hat!!!!!!!
urthatguy66044 (anonymous) says…
Wow... Sounds like the Lawrence Police Department is once again trying to take the easy way out and just blame it on the victim.... I am truly tired of dealing with a police force that is less than mediocre... Why don't you actually do a full investigation before accusing an innocent man. Tisk tisk tisk...
rousseau108 (anonymous) says…
urthatguy66044:
Care to look at the new article about this? Maybe they blamed the victim because they've dealt with this a lot and know when stories don't add up. Surprise, surprise, the "victim" finaly comes clean and gets arrested for making a false report, and wasting the police department's time (and our tax dollars). Tisk tisk tisk indeed.
Tulip (anonymous) says…
If it is the case he came clean and was a part of this it really upsets me. It is cases like this that perpetuate victim blaming. Regardless of the outcome of this case, reading through all of these posts that blamed the victim so strongly before knowing all of the facts is upsetting. What if it was true, how does this make us look as a community? What about all the victims that need support? Maybe the key is to learn as much as we can as a community before making such harsh judgments? However, of course the outcome of this case does not build my case...