Oct. 13--After being lured by a driver asking directions, a man was thrown into the vehicle where a group beat and robbed him before throwing him out Friday night.

The 37-year-old victim suffered minor injuries including a laceration to his lip and scratches on his arms, back and chest, said Lt. Jonathan Green, Decatur police public information officer. Before the attack, the man had been sitting outside on the patio at his sister's home in the 2100 block of Alabama 20 at 11:30 p.m.

A red sport utility vehicle, described as an older model Chevrolet Suburban, drove past slowly and then stopped in front of the home. The driver asked the victim for directions, but the man couldn't hear what the driver said, Green said. He walked closer and then the back doors of the SUV flew open.

"He said several males and two females grabbed him and pulled him inside," Green said. "They punched and kicked him while driving to a wooded area near Beltline Road."

During the half-hour ordeal, the victim told police the group stole his wallet and cell phone before throwing him out of the SUV. He went to Decatur General Hospital where he was treated and released, Green said.

According to the police report, investigators are treating the attack as a felony robbery and kidnapping. Anyone with information can contact Decatur police at 341-4660.

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Copyright (c) 2009, The Decatur Daily, Ala.

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