On October 21, 2007,  at approximately 6:00am, deputies from the Green Valley District responded to I-19/Canoa Ranch Road MP 54, at the southbound Canoa rest stop for an unknown problem.  Upon arrival deputies along with Border Patrol Agents found a male subject (victim) who advised the following information.  The male subject told deputies and Border Patrol that he was part of a group of illegal border crossers.  He added that the group consisted of seventeen (17) crossers with a guide.  He stated that earlier in the morning, the guide left the group and had not return.  He further stated that a group of males with weapons approached the group and told them that they were going to hold them against their will until they (suspects) could make demands from the victims’ families for more money.  At this time, the victim was able to get away from the group and run to the Canoa rest stop for help in the form of a passerby, who called 911 from his cellular phone.

As deputies and Border Patrol entered the desert area looking for the crime scene, the suspects scattered and ran.  Border Patrol’s SRT found three (3) suspects almost immediately, however weapons were not located.  An extensive search was conducted utilizing Border Patrol (SRT and helicopters) and deputies with the assistance of Canine Units.  No additional suspects were located.  The three suspects in custody were booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center for Kidnapping and Aggravated Assault.  They are listed as:

Guadalupe Pacheco Pena (DOB 05/13/75) - Sinaloa
Juan Carlos Ramirez-Morales (DOB 03/20/65) - Durango
Fernando Parente Cruz (DOB 08/27/72) - Sinaloa

The victims were interviewed and positively identified the suspects.  Mugs of the above listed arrestees will be available at the Pima County Sheriff’s Administration Building located at 1750 E. Benson Hwy.