Probable cause: Joplin man beaten, choked, threatened with knife because he was in National Guard

It's just the same as being a police man.

That's what two men allegedly told victim in a June 27 beating and kidnapping at 2025 S. Murphy Avenue in Joplin, according to the probable cause statement.

They had beaten him because he served in the National Guard.

Moses Ramsey, 27, Joplin, and Sergio Zuniga, 24, Webb City, face charges of kidnapping, robbery, assault and armed criminal action. Zuniga's next hearing is scheduled for July 25 in Jasper County Circuit with the next hearing for Ramsey set for August 1.

The probable cause statement is printed below:

On June 27, 2018, between the hours of 0000 and 1400, Sergio Zuniga and Moses Ramsey did assault the victim A. W. Zuniga and Ramsey confronted the victim A. W. and demanded money from his paycheck.

Whne A. W. refused to give them money, Zuniga and Ramsey beat A. W. by hitting him and kicking him until he became unconscious. They then tied his hands and feet and gagged him.

Once A. W. was tied up, Zuniga and Ramsey continued to punch and kick A. W. They then dragged A. W. into the bathroom where they threw him into the bathtub, wrapped the shower certain around his neck cutting off his airflow and threatened to kill him. 

Zuniga and Ramsey also threatened to kill him. Zuniga and Ramsey also threatened A. W. with a with a large fixed blade knife with a blade in excess of six inches.




During this ongoing assault, Zuniga and Ramsey robbed A. W. of his wallet, pants and cell phone.

As the assault occurred over multiple hours, Zuniga and Ramsey kept A. W. at the residence against his will. A. W. was transported to the hospital for injuries from the assault where it was confirmed A. W. suffered from a concussion and a fractured left cheekbone.

A. W. stated that he was in fear Zuniga and Ramsey were going to kill him and assaulted him because he had been in the National Guard, which Zuniga and Ramsey told A. W. was the same as being a police officer.