Suspect Charged In CUKidnap-Robbery

COLUMBUS, Ohio - (08/09/04) -- A local man, arrested last week, wascharged Friday in the July 27 abduction at the home of a Western CUemployee, who was then forced to take her abductors to the creditunion where they emptied out the cash. Erik Watkins, 42, wascharged with one count of armed robbery and use of a firearm duringthe commission of a violent crime. Two armed and masked men brokeinto the employee's home on the night of July 26 and held the womanand her two daughters at gunpoint, before forcing her to take themto the credit union early the next morning. The thieves told thewoman to open the safe, but she couldn't, so they tied up thevictim and her daughters and waited for other employees to arriveto work. As many as eight other employees reported to work and werehandcuffed after the safe was opened. The thieves then stole thewoman's car and fled the scene.