An alarming incident unfolded at RBM of Atlanta, a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Alpharetta, when a routine test drive escalated into an alleged kidnapping scenario. Barinuadum Bariyiga, 39, faces serious charges after supposedly taking a dealership employee on a harrowing ride contrary to her will. According to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta, the service advisor, aged 26, found herself trapped inside a loaner car after Bariyiga requested a demonstration of its features and then drove off with her.
During the ride, which led them towards the North Point Mall, the man allegedly engaged in inappropriate and personal questioning, making suggestive remarks while ignoring the employee's pleas to return to the dealership. Bariyiga also used her phone to call himself, ensuring she had his contact information, an act detailed in her report to authorities. In a statement obtained by Atlanta News First, police said the man drove around for approximately 40 minutes, "hurriedly" attempting to depart the scene when he later returned.
The woman was eventually returned to the dealership unharmed but notably distressed. Forsyth County Sheriff's Office confirmed that while officers were collecting information about the incident, Bariyiga made an appearance in the service area and attempted to leave with a child in a car seat. Pursuing officers encountered resistance from Bariyiga, who reportedly tensed up and attempted to pull away on several occasions before being restrained. The precise details surrounding the child, including their age or status, were not released by the official.
Investigators have corroborated the victim's experience with evidence, including body camera footage and GPS tracking data. The pursued path reflected by the vehicle's technology affirmed the victim's accounts, a match to the story she provided to law enforcement. Bariyiga, who is being held on a $44,520 bond, now faces charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and obstruction as confirmed by jail records, Atlanta News First reported.
As the investigation continues, authorities are scheduled to present their findings in court, where Bariyiga is expected to appear to face his allegations.
