Kidnap victims escape from captors

KIDNAP victim Mitchell “Chico” Joseph, who was kidnapped from his Piparo home on Saturday, escaped on Sunday, and is back home. Joseph, 40, told officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad he was tied up in bushes at La Canoa Road, Santa Cruz, guarded by two kidnappers, when he made a dash for freedom at around 1 pm. He said after the kidnappers fell asleep, he untied himself and ran through some bushes until he saw a house. He sought assistance from occupants of the house and was taken to the Santa Cruz Police Station.

Joseph, a close associate of executed triple murderer Dole Chadee, was treated at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for a bullet graze to the right thigh and bruises from a beating. Late Sunday, he was interviewed by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the shack where he was held by kidnappers was raided. However, no one was at the shack when police officers went there. Joseph’s relatives said yesterday they are happy he is back home and they will be taking the necessary precautions to avoid any future kidnap attempts. Joseph was snatched from his home at Stone Road, Piparo, at around 1 pm on Saturday. The car used in the kidnapping was found abandoned at Todds Road on Saturday night.

Police officers are also investigating a report that Jason Rosales, 30, of Balata Trace, St Joseph, was snatched from his home at around 1 am yesterday. Rosales returned home around 6 am yesterday and told relatives he managed to free himself. He then left home and has not been seen since. Officers of the AKS said they are anxious to interview Rosales.