Chattanooga man accused of faking his own kidnapping

photo Michael Lewis Wiley

A 45-year-old man faces two counts of extortion and one count of making a false report after he phoned his sister to tell her he was kidnapped and needed money to pay his captors, according to Chattanooga police.

Michael Wiley's sister, Linda King, called police to report his kidnapping Sunday after she received three phone calls asking for $3,000. Wiley said he would be killed if the captors did not receive the money. He was last seen Friday, according to the arrest report.

Police interviewed another man who also was contacted by Wiley, Donnell Powell, who said he received the same message asking for $3,000.

Police traced the phone calls to a phone belonging to Wiley. He was tracked to the Budget Motel at 3535 Cummings Highway where Chattanooga police SWAT team members found him alone in a room, according to the report.

He told police he did not know why they showed up in his room and then later said that he was kidnapped from his home, blindfolded and brought to the room. He said the captors left him with his cellphone and more than $30 in cash, according to the report.

A hotel employee interviewed by police said she never saw Wiley blindfolded. He was seen with other men but, "never appeared to be in any duress," the report states.

Wiley has two prior convictions of aggravated assault, according to court records.

Wiley's bond is set at $30,000. His court date is scheduled for Jan. 15 before Hamilton County Sessions Court Judge David Bales.

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