A city detective was suspended without pay after a suspected forger was kidnapped and found tied up in the cop’s Queens garage, sources yesterday.
Ondre Johnson, a 17-year veteran assigned to the Brooklyn North gang unit, was questioned and released as four other people — including his cousin/roommate — were charged.
Johnson was forced to surrender his gun and badge pending the outcome of the investigation.
His cousin, Hakeem Clark, is a suspected credit-card forger and may have done business with the 25-year-old victim, Brian Karikari, who was snatched off the street early Friday, law enforcement sources told The Post.
One of Clark’s alleged cohorts, Jason Hutson, approached Karikari.
When Karikari tried to get into his vehicle, Hutson pointed a gun at him and said, “Don’t try anything funny or I’ll shoot you,” according to court papers.
Karikari was taken to the detective’s home and held for ransom, the sources said.
His abductors took his cellphone, called the last number he had dialed, demanded $75,000 in cash and vowed to kill him if their demands were not met.
The person the abductors spoke to called a friend, who notified authorities.
Cops went to Karikari’s Cambria Heights home, but his father, unaware of his son’s kidnapping, said everyone was safe.
The ransom call was traced to Johnson’s house.
Police repeatedly banged on his door at about 3 p.m. He answered with two guns on his person and identified himself as a cop.
Officers searched the home and found the victim in a detached garage.
In his basement, they allegedly found a safe containing the victim’s wallet, blank as well as stolen credit cards and forging equipment.
Karikari’s dad said last night he’d been unaware of his son’s abduction, but added, “I don’t doubt it.
“He just texted me that I have to change the locks because somebody got the keys or something,” he said.
Clark, 30, was charged with kidnapping and weapon possession, as were Hutson, 27 — who was hiding under the detective’s bed — and James Gayle, 27, the sources said. Alfredo Haughton, 24, was charged with kidnapping.
Johnson, meanwhile, was questioned and released. He claimed to have had no knowledge of any illegal activity in his home.
Sources said Internal Affairs is troubled that the alleged crimes occurred in a cop’s home and that Johnson may hang out with people who are on parole or have rap sheets.
Additional reporting by Kate Kowsh, Aaron Feis and Daniel Prendergast