Influencer Eli Dangerfield’s alleged kidnapper expected to face a Gold Coast court

A second man has been arrested after an alleged kidnapping ploy against a Gold Coast-based online identity and his friend, with links to a $2.9m civil case.

Gold Coast influencer Eli Dangerfield.

A second man has been arrested after an alleged kidnapping ploy against a Gold Coast-based influencer and his friend.

It was alleged on Wednesday January 18 around 6.30pm a group of men gathered at the Meriton carpark in Southport in a Nissan Maxima.

Around 8pm the group of men are alleged to have confronted social media identity Eli Dangerfield, 24, and his friend, a 22-year-old Southport man.

Mr Dangerfield, an e-commerce trainer, was allegedly assaulted by some of the group while it is claimed the 22-year-old man was assaulted with a baseball bat by another member of the group.

Police said the alleged attackers attempted to force Mr Dangerfield into his Mercedes Benz C63 sedan while he fought them off and was able to escape.

Gold Coast influencer Eli Dangerfield.

It is claimed the group then went to his 22-year-old friend and got him in the rear-seat of the Mercedes and allegedly fled the scene, taking Mr Dangerfield’s car and driving their own Nissan.

They allegedly stole Mr Dangerfield’s phone in the process.

Mr Dangerfield was found with facial injuries and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

It was alleged the 22-year-old friend was taken to Brighton Parade in Southport where he was transferred into another car.

The group is understood to have taken the man to Logan where he was allegedly tied to a chair, assaulted and threatened with a firearm.

The man then used a ride-share service to make his way back to Southport after the alleged ordeal.

Gold Coast influencer Eli Dangerfield.

He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with injuries to his face and wrist but in a stable condition.

On Tuesday, police arrested a 23-year-old man after executing a search warrant in Paradise Point.

He was charged with one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, deprivation of liberty, extortion and armed robbery.

He was scheduled to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 22.

The arrest comes days after a 20-year-old Darra man was arrested with one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, deprivation of libery, extortion and armed robbery.

Investigations continue.

$2.9M twist in ‘influencer’s’ alleged kidnapping

An alleged kidnapping ploy against a Gold Coast-based influencer and his mate was to try and stop a $2.9 million civil court case from going ahead, police claim.

Richard Isaiah Stanley, 20, faced Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with a raft of offences relating to the January 20 incident.

His charges include kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, deprivation of liberty and extortion.

It will be alleged Stanley was one of a five of men who kidnapped e-commerce social media identity Eli Dangerfield, 24, and his 22-year-old friend from the car park of a Southport apartment complex about 8pm on January 20.

The men were allegedly wearing balaclavas.

It will be alleged the pair were forced into their 2020 Mercedes Benz C63 sedan.

Mr Dangerfield managed to escape and was taken to hospital for facial injuries.

Police will allege his friend was taken to another address where he was tied to a chair, assaulted and threatened.

It is alleged while there the men made a recording of the man and threatened to release it, if he didn’t tell Mr Dangerfield to stop a civil court case in South Australia.

It is understood Mr Dangerfield is in the midst of a $2.9 million civil suit in which he is the plaintiff.

Mr Dangerfield’s friend was allegedly taken to a Logan location.

It is alleged the men told Mr Dangerfield’s mate to turn around until he heard a beep and then he was free to go.

The man then used a ride-share service to make his way back to Southport.

Stanley is alleged to have been paid to take part in the kidnapping.

No one else has been charged over the incident.

He did not appear in person when his matter was mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court for the first time on Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Torik Dib, of Dib and Associates, did not make an application for his client’s bail and asked that the case be adjourned to Thursday.

Stanley may apply for bail later this week.

He will be remanded in custody until his next court date.

Outside of court Mr Dib said Stanley would be contesting the charges.

“There is serious paucity in the crown case,” he said.

Police are still investigating the case.

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