4 charged after kidnapping victim found tied up inside plastic box in Orillia

An OPP cruiser is seen in this CTV News file photo.

Four people have been charged after a man who was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted was found tied up inside a plastic box in Orillia earlier this month.

Ontario Provincial Police said they received a disturbance call on the Rail Trail off James Street on the evening of Jan. 12.

“Witnesses reported hearing a voice yell for help. Upon arriving at scene, officers located the victim who had been placed into a plastic box, bound with rope, and had signs of being recently assaulted,” OPP said in a news release on Saturday.

Officers rendered first aid on the man, who was later taken to a local hospital. Police said the victim was transferred to a Toronto area hospital for further treatment.

As a result of their investigation, police executed a search warrant at a residence on Moffat Street, which led to four people being arrested.

The suspects have been identified as 38-year-old Ryan Mars, 38-year-old Ashley Newman, 32-year-old Daniel Boonstra and 34-year-old Bronson Ritchie.

Police have laid a combined 15 charges against the four, including kidnapping.

The motive behind the incident is not immediately known.