***PRESS RELEASE / Case #23-38177***

On October 23, 2023, our department was notified of a kidnapping case that occurred in the parking lot of Lifetime Fitness, located at 14843 Lakeside Blvd. The investigation determined that a 24-year-old male was kidnapped by several armed, masked males in the parking lot of the gym. One of the suspects was arrested later that evening after leading officers on a short vehicle pursuit. A second suspect was arrested in Tampa, Florida in January, and a third suspect was also arrested in Tampa, Florida in February.

The Shelby Township Police Detective Bureau has been continuing to investigate this case to identify the other perpetrators involved in this crime. Many search warrants and interviews have been conducted in this complex investigation.

The investigation has again led our detectives to the Tampa, Florida area where two additional suspects were taken into custody with the assistance of officers from the Tampa Bay Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the ATF Task Force.

The two additional suspects are identified as:

-Romeo Jaquez Osorio, age 23, from Tampa, Florida

-Xavier Chase Gardner, age 29, from Brandon, Florida

Romeo Osorio was arraigned on March 1, 2024, on the following charges:

1) Carjacking

2) Conspiracy to commit carjacking

3) Robbery – Armed

4) Conspiracy to commit robbery – armed

5) Torture

6) Unlawful imprisonment

7) Conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment

8)) Conspiracy to commit home invasion – 1st degree

**Osorio’s bond was set in the amount of $3,000,000 cash by Judge Douglas Shepherd**

Xavier Gardner was arraigned on March 6, 2024, on the following charges:

1) Carjacking

2) Conspiracy to commit carjacking

3) Weapons felony firearm

4) Robbery – armed

5) Conspiracy to commit robbery – armed

6) Weapons felony firearm

7) Torture

8)) Unlawful imprisonment

9) Conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment

10) Weapons felony firearm

11) Home invasion – 1st degree

12) Conspiracy to commit home invasion – 1st degree

**Gardner’s bond was set in the amount of $5,000,000 cash by Judge Douglas Shepherd**

Osorio and Gardner’s arrests bring the total number of suspects arrested in relation to this kidnapping/torture case to five suspects. “It was a brilliant plan they had, until they came into Shelby Township.” – Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide.

Our department would like to thank the Tampa Bay Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the members of the ATF Task Force for their continued assistance in this case.