Three arrested after shocking kidnapping case in St. Paul
- Police responded to a reported kidnapping at a building on Payne Avenue, leading to the arrest of three individuals.
- The victim, identified as Barney, was found handcuffed and had been tortured while being held for a drug-related dispute.
- The incident reflects a growing concern over drug cartel involvement and kidnapping in urban areas.
In St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday, January 8, 2025, police received reports about a kidnapping occurring on the city's east side. Responding promptly, St. Paul police, along with a SWAT team, arrived at a building on the 700 block of Payne Avenue around 2 p.m. Once at the scene, police called for those inside to exit the building, leading to the arrest of three individuals. Among them was an adult male, identified as the victim, who was subsequently taken to a local hospital for evaluation, indicating he had suffered from the ordeal. Investigation revealed that the kidnapping was associated with a drug trafficking organization, and it stemmed from a conflict over a drug debt. According to charging documents, Mujica, one of the arrested individuals, communicated that he was sent by the cartel to collect money owed, with the situation escalating to physical violence against the victim, Barney. He was tortured in a basement and was found handcuffed and tied to a post when police intervened. This incident highlights the dangerous intersection of drug trafficking and violent crime in urban areas. Investigators discovered that Barney believed he could seek help from a lawyer at the Payne Avenue address, leading him to the place where the kidnapping took place. The individuals present, including Johnson and Holdahl, were connected to the shop at that location. Holdahl described a series of violent events involving masked men armed with machine guns who forcibly took Barney to the basement. This alarming context indicates how organized crime operations utilize intimidation and force to settle debts amid increasing drug-related violence in communities. The ongoing investigation emphasizes the established ties between local crime and cartel operations, raising concerns among the community about safety and the influence of drug traffickers in the area. Although local law enforcement assured residents there was no active threat, the events painted a troubling picture of how deeply embedded drug-related violence can affect everyday life. This situation prompts a call for greater awareness and community action to combat the ramifications of such criminal activity, which can disrupt not just individual lives but also the broader fabric of the community.