Presenting a tale involving Michael Bautista, hailing from Connecticut and practicing as an optometrist in the United States. Bautista recounts an astonishing account of an alleged abduction orchestrated by none other than Anthony Benjamin. The incident transpired outside the confines of the Brooklyn Mirage. As this peculiar narrative continues to capture significant online traction, we are poised to delve into the details in the forthcoming segments of this exposé.
Who is Michael Bautista?
Reports have emerged regarding Michael Bautista, who claims he was kidnapped outside a contentious nightclub in Brooklyn. Bautista, an optometrist, recounted to law enforcement that Anthony Benjamin, aged 42, coerced him after he intervened in a quarrel with a taxi driver on the 22nd of July. As detailed by the New York Post, Benjamin is alleged to have taken a cataract surgeon across state borders in a peculiar turn of events, compelling him to spend funds on items such as pizza, sneakers, hats, and even a strip club.
The doctor narrated how his abductor escorted him to a barber, who then groomed his hair, all while menacingly warning him against any “funny business.” Benjamin purportedly conveyed to Bautista that he was armed and further disclosed a history of dealing with fatal outcomes, expressing a lack of trepidation in resorting to violence. This information is derived from an incident report filed by the Norwalk Police.
The physician is accused of relinquishing over $1,800 to the abductor at the 4U House of Fitted Caps on White Plains Road, followed by $1,100 at the Foxy Fitness and Pole chain of pole-dance fitness centers, along with approximately $1,700 at Foot Locker. Furthermore, he was persuaded to withdraw nearly $1,000 from ATMs, subsequently handing the money over to acquaintances in the Bronx.
Additional expenses attributed to Benjamin’s coercion encompass $300 at the Family African Meat Market, $111.99 at Hollywood Delights, $137.94 at Freckle’s Juice, and $24.44 at Mario’s Pizzeria. On the 21st of July, Bautista attended a gathering at the Brooklyn Mirage in the company of friends. Following this, he hailed a cab to return to his parked car situated a few blocks away.
Upon leaving the club on the same day, Bautista entered an unlicensed cab. The driver declined to transport him home, at which point Benjamin, already present in the vehicle, redirected them to a Manhattan party instead. An altercation between the doctor and the driver ensued upon reaching the party venue, a situation that Benjamin eventually quelled.
Standing approximately six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, Benjamin persuaded Bautista to partake in the gathering with the intent of getting him off the streets.
The dynamics shifted upon entry, with Bautista imploring the doctor to remain while asking Benjamin to act as his “guardian.” After making unsettling remarks about harming Bautista, the abductor convinced the physician to accompany him to the Bronx, during which they re-entered an Uber. He cautioned, “Any funny business, and you won’t survive.” According to the Post, Bautista cooperated with Benjamin’s demands throughout the entire episode. Upon informing Benjamin that he was on-call and that his absence from work would raise suspicion, Bautista was able to signal for help.
He subsequently enlisted the assistance of Steve Daley, aged 50, to drive them to the doctor’s Norwalk office, as the alleged captor was unable to operate a manual vehicle. Around 4 a.m. on Sunday, the group arrived at Norwalk Hospital. Eventually, Bautista managed to escape after alerting hospital security that Daley and Benjamin were in his vehicle. Law enforcement arrived after the hospital had already been secured, and the status of any firearm remains undisclosed.
