Melvin Jr. remanded on kidnapping, extortion charges

Jimmy Melvin Jr., a notorious convicted drug dealer in Halifax,was arraigned in Dartmouth provincial court on multiple charges Friday including extortion,kidnapping a man, beating himand threatening him at gunpoint.

Melvin, 27, was remanded to jail until his next court appearance set for Feb. 17.

Halifax Regional Police arrested Melvin on Wednesday night after officers were called about an assault in Dartmouth.

Police charged two more suspectsFridayin connection with the incident. A 24-year-old Fall River man and a 26-year-old Halifax man face charges of kidnapping, assault with a weapon and threats.

The 24-year-old man faces an additional charge of breaching his conditions.

They are scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial courtFriday afternoon.

A man told police that he was picked up Wednesday eveningin Dartmouth and taken to Spryfield, where the driver got a gun. A woman got in the car shortly after and took over driving.

Armed with a weapon, the attacker then tried to get information from the victim, police said.

The victim escaped when the car crashed in Highfield Park. A few hours later, police said, he was beaten by three men at an apartment in the Dartmouth neighbourhood, taken outside and threatened that he would be killed.

Police said the victim got away, but the three men caught him and assaulted him again.

It was only then that police were called to intervene. Officers arrived at 8:20 p.m. and arrested Melvin after a foot chase across Highway 111 into the Burnside business park. The other two suspects got away.

The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Natalie Catherine Digioacchino, 28, of Harrietsfield, was released on $2,000 bail after appearing in Dartmouth provincial court Friday. Shewas arraigned oncharges of kidnapping and extortion.

Melvinhas been linked to a series of drug-related violent incidents, including shootings, in the Halifax area since his release from jail in November 2008.