Elderly volunteer leaving Obama campaign office in Pontiac abducted

PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) -- An 88-year-old Obama campaign volunteer was abducted in broad daylight and forced to drive to Detroit.

Police say the volunteer was leaving the campaign office when a man with a knife jumped in his passenger's seat. The suspect, described as a 40-year-old white man wearing a Michigan jacket and stocking cap, robbed the volunteer of $76. But that wasn't enough. That's when the elderly man fought back.

"When they were in Detroit somewhere south of Eight Mile, the victim saw a police car, a Detroit police car, tried to swerve towards the car to try to get the police officer's attention, but did not succeed in doing that. The suspect reached over to grab the wheel and pull the wheel and at that point actually cut the victim on the hand," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard explained.

DPD officers never saw the man's plea for help, but thankfully the suspect jumped out of the car near Seven Mile and Woodward.

A statement from the Michigan Democratic Party says, "We take the safety and security of all of our grassroots volunteers -- who put in countless hours and without whom this campaign cannot function -- very seriously, and we will do everything we can to help investigators get to the bottom of this. For now, our thoughts are with the victim of this senseless and cruel act of violence."

Police say there is video from the Crofoot Bar in Pontiac that could help them solve this crime, but the owner has refused to release that tape to the media, which means police need your help. Anyone with information should call the Oakland County Sheriff's Department.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20010039/elderly-volunteer-leaving-obama-campaign-office-in-pontiac-abducted