Police: Man Kidnapped, Robbed a Woman from Online ‘Companionship’ Ad

A 54-year-old Brookline man was charged with kidnapping and robbing a woman after paying her for “companionship.”  

Brookline Police responded to a report of an assault and battery on Crafts Road on June 1 at about 12:31 a.m..  

Officers found the caller visibly shaken up on Eliot Street. She told police that a man had assaulted her and took $500 from her. When she left the house, she told police that the man shut the front door and turned off the lights. She stood outside the house and said that no one went in or out.  

Officers knocked on the door and windows for several minutes without a response. Officers could hear a dog barking inside. The victim provided the officers with the suspect’s cellphone number and saw it ringing on the kitchen counter through the rear window. Officers positioned themselves outside the home and maintained surveillance.  

The woman told police that she had placed an ad for “companionship.” At about 11:30 p.m. on May 31, the man called her and requested her services. They agreed on a price of $500 and drove to the ATM.  

The woman placed the money in her bra and the two sat on his couch listening to music and talked. They then went into the bedroom, where the woman claimed that the suspect snorted lines of cocaine off of a plate.  

The woman told police that she and the suspect went back to the living room, where she lay on the couch. The suspect sat next to her and began rubbing her thighs. At this point, the woman claimed that she fell asleep and awoke some time later with the man sitting next to her. The woman told the man that she was going home, which angered him.  

At this point, the woman told police that he shouted, “You ripped me off, you’re not going home! Give me my money back or stay and finish.” The woman said that she started to walk towards the door and said she would “call the cops.”  

The woman said that the next thing she remembered, the man grabbed her by the hair and threw her phone across the room. The man physically prevented her from leaving and reportedly put his hands around her neck. The woman then fell to the ground, struggling to breath and said that her vision started to blur. She told police that she bit the suspect’s arm and that he may have marks. At some point during the struggle, the suspect told the woman to “give back the money or I’ll knock you out.”  

The woman said that the suspect forcefully took the money while holding one hand on her neck. The suspect stood up, giving the woman the chance to run. She told police that she fled to her car and the suspect threw her sandals at her.  

The woman identified the suspect through a photo array. Officers arrested Stephen Hickey, 54, of 233 Crafts Road and charged him with kidnapping, unarmed robbery, and intimidating a witness.