Crime & Safety

Bronx Men Charged After Abduction, Manhunt

One person at large late Monday, police say.

One man was at large and two others in custody in connection with an abduction in Cliffside Park and chase that led to a massive police search in Fort Lee and Leonia late Monday, according to authorities and reports.

Police said three Bronx men looking to collect a debt pulled the unidentified victim into a car in Cliffside Park around 8 p.m. The trio ultimately let the victim go and he ran bleeding to a nearby special police officer.

"It wasn't a random act," Cliffside Park Police Chief Donald Keane told NJ.com. "One of the three suspects knew the victim and brought two of his friends with him to go collect a debt."

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Authorities soon spotted the car and a chase involving Fort Lee police ensued before the car crashed on Jones Road, the report said. A Bergen County Police Department K-9 unit nabbed one of the men, Luis Brea, 32, and a Fort Lee officer captured the other, identified as Anthony Espinal-Inoa, 33.

Both were being held at the Bergen County Jail Tuesday on $500,000 bail, facing charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, according to sheriff’s records.

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The third man, who was not immediately identified, was still being sought.

Police searched through late Monday using three K-9 units, a state police helicopter and more than 40 officers, said Lt. Tom Rowe, commander of the Leonia Police Department, which aided in the manhunt.

Fort Lee and Bergen County police returned to the Jones Road area Tuesday morning to search for a weapon, but didn’t locate a handgun authorities said might have used in the kidnapping.

First posted 11:30 p.m. Monday. Updated 8 p.m. Tuesday 


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