July 11, 2021- 11:24 p.m.
Laredo police are releasing more information into the barricaded man reported on Wednesday.
Police are saying that Alejandro Vela, 23, had tried to hide in the attic of a home in the 2100 block of Guatemozin Street because he had kidnapped and tortured a 17-year-old girl who called police on him for harboring migrants.
The case unfolded at about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, when Laredo police officers responded to an emergency call in the 2200 block of Cortez Street. A woman reported that a female asked her for help. The 17-year-old female had visible injuries to her face and mouth, according to the affidavit. The caller mentioned that the teen claimed to have been kidnapped and assaulted by a man at a nearby residence, records state.
The teen stated to police that a man she identified as “Alex Pena” had her kidnapped at a residence on Guatemozin. Police would later identify “Alex Pena” as Vela. Officers noticed the teen had bruising and swelling to the left side of her face, and ligature markings on her wrist. She stated that Vela drives a white BMW passenger car and provided an address in the 2100 block of Guatemozin.
“The victim told officers at the scene that she was kidnapped by Alejandro Vela because Alejandro Vela was accusing her of calling the police on him for having several undocumented illegal (migrants) concealed at his house at 2105 Guatemozin St.,” states the arrest affidavit.
She stated she escaped from her captors by jumping out a window and running away from the residence to then seek help, according to court documents. She was then taken to Laredo Medical Center for further treatment.
Kidnapping scene
Officers at the scene learned that the LPD auto-theft task force had executed a search warrant at the residence located at 2105 Guatemozin and found 29 undocumented migrants. Authorities had detained Vela on July 1 after the execution of the search warrant.
Investigators and officers responded to 2105 Guatemozin to conduct a protective sweep and check for any other victims inside the home. But no one answered. Authorities then noticed a white BMW vehicle in the car garage. Police said that next to the vehicle, there was a chair with pieces of cable and bungee cords tied around the armrest of the chair. Below the chair was a tarp spread across the floor, states the affidavit.
Authorities also noticed several pieces of torn blue tape thrown on the floor. Several plastic empty bottle waters and a long piece of cable were also found on the floor of the garage, states the affidavit. A detective then found a lighter fluid container on the corner of the garage. Authorities said they believed the garage was the crime scene for a kidnapping.
As officers were knocking on the rear of the home, a woman identified as Alexa de la Rosa, 18, exited the home wearing only a T-shirt. While conducting a protective sweep, a detective found an empty gun box for a handgun on top of the kitchen table. The detective observed an empty black rifle gun box on the upstairs hallway floor. Authorities also observed two black handgun magazines on the night stand of the upstairs bedroom. Several live ammo rounds and an ammo box were next to the handgun magazines.
