Two men arrested on suspicion of kidnapping
By Terry Murry on Friday, November 11th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PASCO – An attempt to stop an SUV for driving with no headlights on last month led Pasco police to rescue a woman and arrest two men on suspicion of kidnapping.
Rodolfo Mendoza Ochoa, 39, and Irwing J. Gamboa Gomez, 27, allegedly forced a 25-year-old woman into an SUV by threatening her on Oct. 28 near North 22nd Avenue and West Sylvester Street.
The victim told police the vehicle pulled up to her and that Gamboa Gomez, the driver, told her they had her boyfriend. The female also said Gamboa Gomez told her that if she didn’t want to see her boyfriend get hurt, she needed to get into the car. When she initially refused, Gamboa Gomez threatened to hurt her with what she thought was a gun, but police said it turned out to be a metal pipe. To avoid being killed, the female said she followed Gamboa Gomez’s command to get into the vehicle.
Later that evening, officers attempted to pull over the SUV, but Gamboa Gomez failed to comply. While eluding police, the female told police that Mendoza Ochoa cursed at her to be quiet and told her, “Do what you are told, and you won’t get hurt.”
When they drove to the Lakeview Mobile Home Park, 1505 South Road 40 East, Gamboa Gomez pulled a knife from under his seat and Mendoza Ochoa grabbed the metal pipe. When Gamboa Gomez saw the police, he put the knife down.
While the car was in the mobile home park, the female was able to exit the vehicle. The pursuit ended just a few blocks away where the two men were taken into custody at gunpoint. Both men were booked into the Franklin County Jail for first-degree kidnapping. Gamboa Gomez is also charged with attempting to elude.
