Homeless Des Moines man in van says he was forced into crime spree

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A Des Moines homeless man claims he was forced at gunpoint to participate in a night of crime.

Ricki Laughman says he sleeps in his van, and late Wednesday an alleged assault victim asked him to take to a hospital. He says he agreed, but instead of one person, five men, one of them armed, and a woman piled into the van.

The 49-year-old Laughman says he was forced to take them to two convenience stores, where they stole beer and sausages. He claims he was also forced to take them to a food store.

After the suspects left his van after several hours, Laughman called police.

Police said Laughman claimed his abductors warned him they knew where he lived and would kill him if he snitched.

Des Moines police say they are treating Laughman's ordeal as a kidnapping.

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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.