Two Bunker men charged with kidnapping, assault

• Max O. Openshaw, 27, is charged with counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and first-degree kidnapping. He was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

Deputies with the Dent County Sheriff’s Office responded Sunday to Bunker after Suhling called 911 to report a car had been stolen and accused the alleged thief of other actions, according to the case’s probable cause statement. Upon arrival, the statement says Suhling told deputies he was alerted to the accusations by a passenger in the allegedly stolen car who messaged him while it was parked on a logging road with her, another passenger and the accused thief driving it.

During an interview with deputies the statement quotes Suhling as saying he and Openshaw travelled to the logging road in a truck while armed to confront the alleged car thief. Once there, Suhling admitted to firing a shotgun while operating his truck towards the allegedly stolen car. Suhling also admitted to ramming the rear of the allegedly stolen car, forcing the driver out, beating him, saying he’d kill him and forcing the accused thief at gunpoint into the bed of Suhling’s truck with Openshaw’s help. The other passenger fled into the woods. Suhling denied pointing the shotgun at the accused man during the interview saying instead he aimed toward a tree.

After traveling a few miles, the statement says the accused man jumped from the truck bed and fled in the belief he was going to be killed. Suhling told deputies he and Openshaw intended to turn the man over to law enforcement.

During his interview, the statement says Openshaw told deputies he was armed with a handgun during the incident and used it to strike the accused man but then lost the weapon near the car.

Investigation by law enforcement determined the car could not be considered stolen since the driver had been given permission to operate the vehicle.

Suhling’s shotgun was later recovered and found to have a spent round in its chamber.

The kidnapping victim later filed a criminal complaint against Suhling and Openshaw at the sheriff’s office detailing the incident. Treatment at Salem Memorial District Hospital determined he’d suffered an orbital bone fracture, cuts and bruises from the assault.