Alberto Ramirez and Jose Blandon-Rivera. (OTCDF)
Pelican Rapids, MN – Two Pelican Rapids men have been charged with kidnapping, burglary, and robbery. Otter Tail County prosecutors say 28-year-old Alberto Ramirez and 22-year-old Jose Blandon-Rivera were arrested this weekend for kidnapping a man and assaulting his roommate.
At around 7:30 a.m. Sunday, October 19, Pelican Rapids Police were called to a break-in at an apartment and found one victim that had been assaulted. The victim said that while he was asleep, three or four men had entered his apartment unmasked. He said one man began punching him, while another pulled on his hooded sweatshirt and blocked his airway. The victim told police that he suspected that he was attacked because his roommate had stolen a bottle of alcohol from a local liquor store and the store had posted both men’s photos on its Facebook page. The men took the bottle of liquor and the victim’s phone and left.
Later, investigators got in contact with the roommate, who said that he had been at a house party earlier, when three or four men assaulted him and said that they wanted to take him to where the other victim was to, “take care of the stealing.” Court documents say the second victim and Ramirez were driven by Blandon-Rivera to the apartment. The victim said that while on the way, Ramirez pulled a gun from the center console and told him to take them to the apartment or, “this is what he was going to get.” He also said that he tried to warn his roommate, but was caught and the men took his phone, the money from his wallet, and ID.
Through both victim’s descriptions, police identified Ramirez and Blandon-Rivera as two of the men involved. When speaking with investigators, court documents say that Ramirez said that he had seen the kidnapping victim at the house party and recognized him as being involved in the liquor store theft and wanted to collect the money and return it to the store. He said he and his group of friends he was with confronted the man, and he admitted to the theft and gave them $24. Ramirez said that he wanted to collect the rest of the money and the group decided to go to the victims’ apartment. He said they used the man’s keys to enter and began assaulting the other victim.
Ramirez and Blandon-Rivera have been charged with kidnapping to facilitate a felony, 1st degree burglary, 1st degree aggravated robbery, and aiding and abetting to kidnapping, burglary, and robbery. They made their first court appearances Tuesday morning.
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