Men held in early-morning kidnapping

Three men were arrested early Thursday on suspicion of kidnapping after five hostages were discovered in a Carson City motel room -- two of them bound to a headboard at the wrists.

"They broke into the room, held them at gunpoint and tied two up," said sheriff's Detective Sgt. Bob White. White said police believe the situation stemmed from money owed for methamphetamine.

Elias Juarez-Cordero, 21, is in Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and possession of methamphetamine. His bail is set at $102,500.

Alejandro Garcia, 32, is being held on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon. His bail was set at $120,000.

Juan Garcia-Valazquez, 28, is being held on suspicion of aiding and abetting, kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and home invasion. His bail was set at $145,000.

About 4 a.m., deputies went to the Carson City Inn, 1930 N. Carson St., after a report of a man with a gun. They discovered four women and one man being held in a room, which was rented to the women, White said.

The women and man told police Juarez-Cordero and Garcia had knives and Garcia-Valazquez had a gun on them. Two of the women were tied to the headboard with torn sheets.

A sixth hostage, another man, ran from the room and was chased by a gun-toting Garcia-Valazquez, White said.

During the pursuit, Garcia-Valazquez allegedly kicked in a door at the Frontier Motel.

John Merriman and his wife, Linda, were awakened by a loud boom and saw a man standing in the doorway.

"I jumped up and ran toward the door and shouted, 'Get out of here!'" Merriman said. "About three minutes later we heard a bunch of yelling outside and the police had the same guy on the ground."

Nine sheriff's search-and-rescue team members combed an eight-block radius from Adeline Street to the Carson City Inn for three hours Thursday morning looking for the gun witnesses said Garcia-Valazquez had. They came up empty handed.

It is described as a blue-steel revolver with a long barrel, White said.

"If anyone finds its, do not touch it," he said. "Call the police."

BREAKOUT

Carson City sheriff's non-emergency number: 887-2008