A shocking incident occurred on May 9 around 9 p.m. in Northeast Washington, D.C., when a man identified in court documents as ‘C.S.’ became the victim of a brutal kidnapping and robbery as he was returning home from a grocery store.
As C.S. parked his 2008 Red Dodge Caravan in his apartment’s parking garage, he was suddenly attacked by two suspects, Damon Middleton and Michael Alston.
The assailants knocked C.S. to the ground, where he reported being struck multiple times with the butt of a gun before a towel was placed over his head.
In a terrifying turn of events, Alston and Middleton bound C.S.’ wrists with zip ties and demanded to know where his money was, to which he replied that he did not have any cash on him.
They forcibly took C.S.’ wallet, keys, and phone before Middleton proceeded to ransack C.S.’ apartment in search of cash, while Alston kept watch over the victim in the garage.
After gathering what they could, the two men forced C.S. into his own vehicle and drove off, continuing their criminal activities by taking him to multiple ATMs.
During this torture, C.S. was beaten with a baseball bat until he could recall the PIN for his ATM card. In total, the suspects visited several ATMs across the area, managing to withdraw cash from C.S.’ accounts.
The horrifying ordeal culminated when Middleton and Alston discarded C.S. in an empty parking lot in Hyattsville, leaving him bound and helpless in his own vehicle. Hours later, C.S. was discovered by a Prince George’s County Police officer.
The following day, at approximately 2:15 a.m., the D.C. police received reports of a car fire on Wilmington Place, which was soon identified as C.S.’ vehicle.
Upon inspecting C.S.’ apartment, officers found the door unlocked and clear signs that the place had been disturbed.
In the ensuing investigation, police obtained C.S.’ cell phone history, revealing crucial transaction and location data. Notably, records indicated that on May 9 at 11:12 p.m., Middleton and Alston attempted to make two $24 withdrawals at a Bank of America ATM.
Later that evening, successful transactions were recorded at an M&T Bank ATM for amounts totaling $506 at 11:40 p.m. Additional attempts were made at a Wells Fargo ATM shortly after, including a withdraw attempt of $203.
As the investigation progressed, authorities discovered that on May 10 at 12:04 a.m., C.S. had a significant transaction involving his CashApp account, sending $2,600 to someone identified as ‘T.F.’
Further analysis of communications between Alston and T.F. revealed Alston had messaged, ‘Ite I just bagged a n****, could I send u 3800$ and get u to send it somewhere else but keep 250$ for urself?’ followed by clarifying instructions about sending the money.
On May 10, T.F. sent $1,020 to an unrelated CashApp account, with records suggesting Alston had access to it.
Later that day, Alston provided T.F. with another CashApp account, directing the transfer of $1,150. Transactions continued, including a withdrawal of $1,006 made by Middleton the next day at a Chase Bank.
Detectives reviewed cellphone records which illustrated constant communication between Middleton and Alston leading up to the crime.
They reassessed surveillance footage of C.S.’ apartment building, observing that neither suspect entered the residence before the event.
However, footage did reveal a green Honda with Virginia tags entering the garage twice shortly before the kidnapping occurred, ultimately raising further suspicions.
The first entry of the Honda was recorded at 7:20 p.m., leaving at 7:28 p.m., and later re-entering at 8:21 p.m. alongside a Dodge Durango.
Notably, the Honda was absent from the garage until after the incident, with footage showing it exiting the garage at 2:57 a.m. on May 10, shortly after C.S.’ car was reported ablaze.
Critical evidence including video from inside the building captured Alston using C.S.’ stolen key fob to navigate back into the premises just before the Honda departed.
Detectives successfully traced the vehicle’s registration back to Middleton. Phone data further illustrated that during the kidnapping, Middleton’s cellphone was detected near C.S.’ apartment and Alston’s phone.
As the investigation unfolds, the details emerging highlight the severity of the crime and raise questions about safety within community areas.
Authorities continue to seek justice for C.S. while the neighborhood watches in collective disbelief over the violence of this incident.
image source from：wusa9
