MISSION —Police here conducted at least two home raids Monday in connection with a kidnapping. Police would not yet release details on the case, but law enforcement officials did state the license plate number of the victim’s vehicle over the police radio. Public records show the pickup truck is registered to “A.V.L. L.P. Fredrick Harms.” Fred Harms is a partner in the domestic limited partnership called “A.V.L. L.P.,” according to Texas Secretary of State Records. Harms is involved with several Rio Grande Valley businesses. He is the director of Santa Fe Steakhouse Inc., the president of Paradise Car Wash, the president of Zia Holdings LLC among other businesses, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s records. Those not authorized to speak about the case confirmed that police conducted at least two raids —one near Brushline Road and 3 Mile Line and another in Hidalgo. A Monitor reporter observed law enforcement officials haul a horse trailer off the Brushline property. Sgt. Jody Tittle, a spokesman for the Mission Police Department, said more information would be released Tuesday.

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Police: Mission kidnapping stemmed from love triangle
November 08, 2011 3:51 PM

Naxiely Lopez
The Monitor
MISSION — Two men faced aggravated kidnapping charges after they allegedly abducted a McAllen businessman at gunpoint from a Denny’s parking lot Sunday night.

Judge Horacio Peña Jr. charged Armando Hernandez, 48, and Edgar Daniel Saavedra, 21, with the first degree felony Tuesday at the Mission Municipal Court.

Investigators believe both were part of a group of men who kidnapped Fred Harms, director of Santa Fe Steakhouse Inc. and president of Paradise Carwash — both in McAllen.

Harms managed to escape from his assailants Monday morning.

The kidnapping stemmed from a lovers’ quarrel, said Mission Assistant Police Chief Martin Garza. Hernandez and the victim were apparently dating the same woman.

Hernandez — whom sources said is a police comandante in Mexico — apparently orchestrated the kidnapping, police said. He asked Farms to meet him at the Mission restaurant, 116 South Shary Road, about 8 p.m. Sunday.

Harms was inside Denny’s when he received a call from Hernandez, who told him to go outside, court documents showed. He asked Harms to get into a maroon Ford Explorer, where several armed men were waiting for him.

Hernandez and at least two men handcuffed Harms and bound his feet, investigators said. They then drove him to a ranch north of Palmview near Mile 3 and Brushline roads, where they beat him and threatened to kill him with a black handgun equipped with a silencer.

Saavedra worked as a translator for Hernandez, who doesn’t speak English, and participated in the threats, records showed. At one point the assailants asked Harms for ransom.

“Harms explained that he could not pat that kind of money, but could access an account for a lesser amount” court documents stated. Investigators did not disclose the amount demanded.

The kidnappers then moved Harms into a horse trailer in the back of the property, police said. They placed him face down and piled bicycles and other heavy items on top of him.

Hours later, however, Harms managed to cut the duct tape around his legs and ran over two miles to safety. A janitor at a nearby school spotted a handcuffed Harms and called police.

Peña issued Hernandez, a U.S. resident, a $200,000 bond because his attorney Joe Chapa insisted he was not a flight risk. Hernandez, Chapa said, owns property in Hidalgo and has four children in school.

Saavedra, a U.S. Citizen from Mission, was issued a $75,000 bond.

If convicted, they could face up to life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

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http://www.themonitor.com/news/mission-56429-stemmed-triangle.html

Discounts at Sante Fe? Perhaps a welcome back party?

I leave the valley in 2004 and s*it starts to slowly get out of hand. Kidnapping people is the poor criminal choice for fast cash.

Sent from my iPhone.

I hope these scumbags get life in prison.

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I leave the valley in 2004 and s*it starts to slowly get out of hand.

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It was alreay awful when I left the valley in 1998.



[This message has been edited by proudaggie02 (edited 11/9/2011 3:45p).]

Turns out there was more to the story...

Woman + Other Man + Testosterone + Gun = LOL
s