Champaign man accused of holding father captive at knifepoint for ransom
May 17—URBANA — A Champaign man is accused of holding his father hostage for several hours Wednesday while threatening him with a knife in order to obtain money.
On Thursday, Judge Brett Olmstead arraigned Zachary D. Browning, 40, on charges of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated kidnapping for a ransom and aggravated kidnapping while armed.
Assistant State's Attorney Joel Fletcher said an acquaintance of Browning's father planned to meet up with him Wednesday morning and called police when he never showed up.
Fletcher said the acquaintance called Browning's father several times, and on one of the calls, Browning answered and said he was busy.
When police arrived at Browning's father's house on East Green Street in Champaign, a neighbor told officers they had just seen Browning and his father leave to walk a dog, and Browning had a large knife in his pocket.
Officers located the two men in the area and found a 12-inch knife and his father's phone in Browning's pocket, Fletcher said.
Browning's father allegedly told police that his son had moved in with him two years ago, but they had ongoing disputes about Browning's gambling and alcohol use. Browning had moved out of the house prior to this incident and did not have permission to be there.
Browning's father added that when he got home Tuesday evening, he noticed several things out of place. The next morning, his son called and said he needed to grab some things from the house before he moved to Chicago.
But when Browning arrived, he allegedly retrieved a kitchen knife, placed it on the kitchen table and said he was in charge now.
Browning then took his father's phone and demanded his father give him $25,000 or else he would kill him, Fletcher said.
Browning's father refused to give the money and Browning then allegedly attempted to extort lesser sums Fletcher said, adding that Browning admitted to his father that he had broken in to his house the night before.
All the while, Browning followed his father around the house, didn't allow him to leave and told him he didn't want to kill him but would have to if he didn't transfer the funds, Fletcher said.
Seeking an opportunity to call for help, the father eventually convinced Browning to walk the dog with him.
Fletcher said Browning's father was held captive for roughly four-and-a-half hours and told police his son seemed under the influence of alcohol when he arrived and consumed vodka during the incident.
Browning faces six to 30 years in prison if he is convicted of any of the Class X felonies he stands accused of.
The state requested that Browning be held in jail ahead of his pending trial; a hearing on matter is set for today.
