HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Hollywood police are searching for a 49-year-old man accused in a violent home invasion that sent two people to the hospital.
Robert Young faces a number of charges, including kidnapping and robbery.
Hollywood police spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said Young knocked on the door of a home in the 4500 block of West Park Road about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
He told one of the residents, a 68-year-old woman, that his cat had run into her backyard and asked her to unlock the gate so he could retrieve the animal, Grossman said. Young then asked the woman for tuna fish for the cat and once inside the home, Young tied her up, along with her brother, Grossman said.
The woman's brother told Local 10 News that Young beat and kicked him and threatened to set him on fire.
The woman eventually escaped and ran to neighbor John Guerrero's home for help.
"She said, 'Come on, come with me. Somebody tried to break into my house and he has a knife on my brother,'" Guerrero told Local 10 News.
Grossman said Young stole a number of items from the home and fled on a bicycle.
The woman's brother had severe bruising on his face, neighbors said.
Both victims were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital, where they were treated and released.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Hollywood Police Department at 954-764-4357 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.