$55,000 Sports Car : Couple Held in Test Drive That Turned Into a Heist

A Sacramento man and woman were in jail Wednesday in connection with the kidnaping of a Burbank car saleswoman and theft of a $55,000 Porsche, Burbank police said.

Morris G. Claiborne, 25, allegedly left saleswoman Marci Stone bound and gagged in Van Nuys on Monday after threatening her with a metal-studded flashlight when she took Claiborne for a test drive in a Porsche 928. Stone was uninjured, Detective Jim Williams said.

Claiborne and Charlin C. Van Dyke, 22, described by police as his live-in girlfriend, were being held in Burbank Jail on suspicion of grand theft of an automobile, kidnap to commit robbery and robbery. Bail for each was set at $50,000, Williams said.

Pursuit Ends Near Bakersfield

Claiborne was arrested Monday night near Bakersfield after leading California Highway Patrol officers on a chase. Claiborne was also being held on suspicion of reckless driving and evading arrest.

Van Dyke had been arrested a few minutes before as she followed Claiborne in his Datsun 280Z, Williams said.

The chase started when CHP officers said they noticed the cars weaving in traffic.

Burbank police said Claiborne and Van Dyke went to Victory Porsche-Audi in Burbank about 10 a.m. Monday. Claiborne told Stone he would be willing to pay full sticker price for the 1985 sports car and asked for a test drive. Van Dyke stayed at the car dealership, Williams said.

During the test drive, Stone noticed that Van Dyke was following them in Claiborne’s car. Claiborne told Stone that he was to meet his girlfriend at a fast-food restaurant, where she would give him a cashier’s check for the Porsche, police said.

Started Shaking

When Stone replied that they would have to return to the dealership to conduct the transaction, Claiborne began shaking in what he said was a diabetic seizure, Williams said.

They stopped at a convenience store so Claiborne could buy “sugar water,” which Claiborne said relieved his symptoms. Stone drove Claiborne back to the dealership and called paramedics but Claiborne refused medical treatment, Williams said.

A short time later, Claiborne asked Stone to take him on another test drive. About two blocks from the dealership, he pulled out the flashlight and threatened Stone, saying: “Lock your door and do what I tell you,” police said.

Stone said Claiborne claimed to be an Egyptian who had fought against Israel in the Six-Day War. “We need the car for our cause,” police quoted him as telling Stone.

Claiborne drove Stone to a vacant lot behind a row of Van Nuys businesses, where he bound and gagged her before fleeing in the Porsche, Williams said. Stone freed herself and called her employer, who called police, Williams said.