A Florida man implicated in a brutal carjacking and kidnapping sequence was arraigned yesterday in Shelby Township. Xavier Gardner, 29, stands accused of a series of charges including carjacking, armed robbery, and torture in connection with an incident that took place outside of a fitness gym last year, as reported by The Detroit News.
The alleged crime occurred on October 23 when a 24-year-old man was reportedly accosted by six armed men outside Lifetime Fitness and subsequently tortured. According to ClickOnDetroit, Gardner and the accomplices bound the victim in his vehicle and later entered his residence. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office confirmed Gardner's arraignment, marking him the fifth person to face justice in the ongoing case.
Gardner, a Brandon, Florida resident, was extradited to Michigan earlier this week to face his charges and was given a $5 million cash-only bond by Judge Douglas Shepherd. This incident, as Macomb Daily describes, was meticulously orchestrated though ultimately foiled by law enforcement officers in Shelby Township.
It is our duty to ensure that those who commit violent crimes face the full weight of the law," stated Prosecutor Peter Lucido. "Every individual must be held accountable for their actions, ensuring that justice prevails and our society remains secure," as reported by The Detroit News. A probable cause hearing for Gardner is slated for March 11, and if convicted, he could potentially face a life sentence. The Shelby Township Police Department credits the collaborative effort with the Tampa Bay Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and members of the ATF Task Force for the advancements in the case.
With Gardner's arraignment, only one suspect remains at large in the harrowing kidnapping and carjacking crime that has seen multiple Florida suspects extradited to face charges in Michigan. The authorities are still working to apprehend the final alleged accomplice.
