Man arrested in Dallas in connection with salesman who was beaten, kidnapped during test drive

A man has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a Houston car salesman and stealing his car during a test drive.

William Gardner was arrested Sunday in the Dallas area. Gardner, 23, is charged with aggravated robbery.

On Jan. 4, Jose Martinez said he and a would-be car buyer pulled out of the Gillman Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership on West Sam Houston Parkway South in southwest Houston.

"I look over and he hit me and the other guy came out the other car that pulled up behind me and hit me," Martinez said.

Gardner and the other suspect allegedly tied up Martinez and shoved him in the trunk.

"They tied me up with some tape and my belt on my ankles and closed the trunk. They got my wallet and my phone," he said.

Martinez managed to break free from the tape and pulled the emergency release inside the trunk and jumped out. But Gardner and the other man caught up with him and that is where the tables turned.

"The other guy got out of the car. I started fighting him. He dropped his gun. He was trying to pull it out. I just picked up and shot at him and I think I hit him right up here," Martinez said, gesturing to his shoulder.

Gardner and the second suspect took off and police tracked them down to where they crashed near Dairy Ashford and Westheimer. Both Gardner and the other man escaped.

Martinez suffered a broken nose, stitches in his lip and several bruises.

Court records show that Gardner gave the dealership his driver's license to make a copy before the test drive and that is how police tracked him down.

At this time, the second suspect has not yet been charged or arrested.

"I hope he goes to prison," Martinez said. "I mean he has a lot of charges against him, like attempted murder, kidnapping, like everything, so he's screwed for several years, hopefully a lot."

Gardner has a long criminal history. Since 2013, officers have arrested him for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, criminal trespass, burglary of a vehicle and possession of marijuana.

Martinez is scheduled to have surgery on his nose next week, and return to work soon.