By LISA PULITZER and BILL SANDERSON
January 28, 2004 -- An Ohio man bet and lost - and then got busted on charges of kidnapping and robbing the Long Island sports gambling consultant whose expensive advice didn't pay off, police said yesterday.
Douglas Warner, 57, paid between $20,000 and $40,000 for advice from Platinum Sports Advisory - advice that cost him a whopping $200,000 in losses at Las Vegas sports books.
So on Sunday, hoping to recoup his losses, Warner went to Platinum Sports' office in Oakdale and abducted company owner George Villano at gunpoint, cops said.
"Warner was angry over recent gambling advice he received from George Villano and others at the Sports Advisory," said Suffolk Lt. Edward P. Reilly.
Warner wanted Villano to take him to his business partner, whom Warner particularly blamed for his losses, Reilly said. Police didn't name the partner.
Instead, Villano drove Warner to his own home, where he handed over $4,800 and convinced him he'd come up with the rest of the money Monday morning.
Then Villano drove Warner to his motel - and called the police.
When Warner showed up at Platinum Sports Advisory the next morning, he carried a stun gun and wore a bulletproof vest - and in his car he had a loaded .380-caliber handgun, handcuffs, duct tape and a full-face ski mask, said cops.
Warner - described as a big man, over 6 feet tall - was arrested after a violent struggle that slightly injured two cops.
"He was probably scared to death," a woman who identified herself as the suspect's girlfriend said from his home in Springboro, Ohio.
Warner was taken to Brookhaven Hospital yesterday, but officials would not say why. His treatment was expected to delay his first court appearance until today.
He's been unemployed for two years, since leaving his job at a bus-manufacturing company, said the girlfriend, who did not give her name.
"He's a wonderful guy. He's got straight-A credit. He's never been in jail, he's never been arrested," said the girlfriend. "I can't see him harming anybody."
Warner got Platinum Sports' advice over the phone, and flew to Las Vegas to place his bets, said police.
Asked why Warner gambled, his girlfriend said: "He was trying to make money, I guess. He didn't have a job."
No one was available at Platinum Sports yesterday. The 2-year-old firm, which employs 8 to 10 men in an Oakdale storefront, rarely has visitors, said a worker at another nearby business.
January 28, 2004 -- An Ohio man bet and lost - and then got busted on charges of kidnapping and robbing the Long Island sports gambling consultant whose expensive advice didn't pay off, police said yesterday.
Douglas Warner, 57, paid between $20,000 and $40,000 for advice from Platinum Sports Advisory - advice that cost him a whopping $200,000 in losses at Las Vegas sports books.
So on Sunday, hoping to recoup his losses, Warner went to Platinum Sports' office in Oakdale and abducted company owner George Villano at gunpoint, cops said.
"Warner was angry over recent gambling advice he received from George Villano and others at the Sports Advisory," said Suffolk Lt. Edward P. Reilly.
Warner wanted Villano to take him to his business partner, whom Warner particularly blamed for his losses, Reilly said. Police didn't name the partner.
Instead, Villano drove Warner to his own home, where he handed over $4,800 and convinced him he'd come up with the rest of the money Monday morning.
Then Villano drove Warner to his motel - and called the police.
When Warner showed up at Platinum Sports Advisory the next morning, he carried a stun gun and wore a bulletproof vest - and in his car he had a loaded .380-caliber handgun, handcuffs, duct tape and a full-face ski mask, said cops.
Warner - described as a big man, over 6 feet tall - was arrested after a violent struggle that slightly injured two cops.
"He was probably scared to death," a woman who identified herself as the suspect's girlfriend said from his home in Springboro, Ohio.
Warner was taken to Brookhaven Hospital yesterday, but officials would not say why. His treatment was expected to delay his first court appearance until today.
He's been unemployed for two years, since leaving his job at a bus-manufacturing company, said the girlfriend, who did not give her name.
"He's a wonderful guy. He's got straight-A credit. He's never been in jail, he's never been arrested," said the girlfriend. "I can't see him harming anybody."
Warner got Platinum Sports' advice over the phone, and flew to Las Vegas to place his bets, said police.
Asked why Warner gambled, his girlfriend said: "He was trying to make money, I guess. He didn't have a job."
No one was available at Platinum Sports yesterday. The 2-year-old firm, which employs 8 to 10 men in an Oakdale storefront, rarely has visitors, said a worker at another nearby business.
