Kidnapped Handyman Is Forced to Fix House: Cops

And the crime-blotter gem of the day goes to San Jose, where police have charged a couple with kidnapping a handyman to fix stuff around their house, reports KGO via Gawker. Police say the couple beat up the man when he arrived and threatened him with more if he didn't fix the dishwasher and a broken door. He did so, and they were driving him to another house when he escaped at a gas station. Partial explanation: The handyman apparently had a dispute over work he did for a relative of the couple, and police say they were exacting revenge.

Says a Santa Clara County sergeant: "Pretty much told, 'Hey, we're going to kill you if you don't do what we tell you. We want you to fix these things around the house.' Out of fear of the unknown and of what's going to happen to him," the handyman complied. (More strange stuff stories.)