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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police have arrested a woman who they believe orchestrated the kidnappings of two people all because of a $1,700 debt.
Martina Ventura Alcantar-Ventura, 25, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for investigation of two counts of kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and failing to respond to an officer's signal to stop.
Police were originally called to the area of 1900 W. North Temple on a report of an assault.
"While en route to the call, I was informed by dispatch that the victim reported his wife being taken against her will in the suspect's vehicle," the responding officer wrote in a police booking affidavit.
The officer arrived to find a 32-year-old man who said he owed Alcantar-Ventura about $1,700. The man then told police that Alcantar-Ventura had found him in the area of 200 West and North Temple where she and four associates forced him into her car, the affidavit states.
Police say he was then "forced by the threat of injury to reveal the location of his wife." After locating the wife and also forcing her into the car, Alcantar-Ventura drove them to a motel near 2000 W. North Temple where she demanded to be paid.
"Fearing for his life, (the man) jumped out of Martina's vehicle in the parking lot and ran," the affidavit states. Police reviewed surveillance video from the motel and "saw that one of Martina's associates chased (the man) down and delivered several devastating blows to his face and body."
As Alcantar-Ventura's car followed, additional people got out and police observed on surveillance video the man being "chased around the motel parking lot, continually beaten" by two men.
While an officer was at the motel reviewing surveillance video, Alcantar-Ventura and the woman returned. She was arrested a short time later.
