A disturbing incident unfolded in the Punta Carretas neighborhood last Friday, resulting in the arrest of a 28-year-old man accused of extortion. The suspect had allegedly kidnapped a 16-year-old high school student and subsequently demanded a ransom from the boy’s mother. Following a thorough investigation, the authorities have imposed a 120-day preventive detention on the suspect, pending further inquiry.
According to the Fiscalía, the accused has a prior record of criminal activity. The harrowing ordeal began when the teenager was walking to school on Friday morning. The perpetrator, who had been lurking in the area, crossed through a gas station located at the intersection of Echevarría and José María Montero, near Bulevar Artigas, and started chasing the boy. Upon catching up to him at the corner of Echevarría and Ibiray, just beside the gas station, the man kidnapped the minor.
In a brazen move, the kidnapper forced the boy to withdraw $2,000 from an ATM after discovering he had a debit card. The duo then proceeded to a bridge on Avenida Sarmiento and Bulevar Artigas, merely three blocks away from the initial abduction site. During their journey, the assailant used the boy’s phone to contact his mother, requesting a ransom in exchange for her son’s safe return. The mother was instructed to bring the money to the designated bridge.
The desperate mother managed to gather $10,000 in cash, a pair of Adidas brand shoes, and a PlayStation 4 console, which she placed in a paper bag and brought to the agreed-upon location. However, she had already informed the police about the situation, and they were closely monitoring her movements from the Unified Command Center, where they track video surveillance footage. The police were able to track the mother as she arrived at the bridge with the bag and money.
Guided by the Unified Command Center, investigators from the 1st police zone arrived just behind the mother, allowing them to apprehend the suspect and free the minor in front of his relieved mother. The successful operation was a result of swift action and coordination between the authorities and the victim’s family, preventing a potentially disastrous outcome. As the investigation continues, the suspect will remain in custody for the next 120 days.
