Feb 16, 2006 3:13 pm US/Eastern
RI Police Arrest Kidnappers After Ransom Drop
PROVIDENCE, RI (AP) ―
The wife of a RI real estate investor and radio station owner was allegedly kidnapped and held for ransom before being rescued by police early Thursday morning.
Erene Rapoza was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon. Her husband, Craig Rapoza, is an owner of three radio stations -- including WKKB-FM, WAKX-FM and WALE-AM.
Two Providence man allegedly bound and gagged the woman and kept her in a bathroom while they tried to collect a $150,000 ransom.
Police say the kidnappers told Craig Rapoza that if he did not pay the money, they would kill his wife.
Rapoza called his attorney, who reported the abduction to state police.
"We brainstormed and tried to find out what is the purpose, who's involved, what the motive is," State Police Maj. Steven O'Donnell said.
Police developed a list of suspects and set up surveillance in several spots in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
During the next few hours, the kidnappers called Rapoza several times.
Following their instructions, he threw $150,000 out the window of his car as he entered I-95 south from Exit 5 in Massachusetts early Thursday morning. He was accompanied by undercover detectives.
"When we made the drop, that's when we moved in," O'Donnell said.
They stopped 20-year-old Cesar Lopez as he drove through the area. A few moments later, they arrested Ralph Alexander, 24, as he walked through a nearby shopping center.
Police then went to Lopez's home, where they found Erene Rapoza bound and gagged in the bathroom.
"Emotionally, she was, as you can imagine, she was devastated from the ordeal," O'Donnell said.
Erene Rapoza was taken to Rhode Island Hospital as a precaution but was not injured.
The Rapozas met one of the suspects during a property sale, he said.
Lopez and Alexander were charged Thursday with kidnapping with intent to extort, first-degree robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy. They did not enter a plea in District Court and were ordered held without bail.
A bail hearing was scheduled for March 2.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
