$80 Debt Claim Leads to an Adventure, Jail

Paul Foster went a long way to try to collect an $80 debt. Too far, police say.

It began at 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to Santa Ana police, when Foster went looking for Robert George Gallardo, who he said owed him $80. Foster, 20, found Gallardo, 21, walking in the 1600 block of South Cedar Street.

Foster, brandishing a gun, ordered Gallardo into his car and demanded the $80, spokeswoman Maureen Thomas of the Police Department said. When Gallardo replied that he did not have the cash, Foster allegedly ordered him to take the wheel and drive to his home in the 1400 block of South Sycamore Street.

Tried to Get Money, Police Say

When they arrived, Thomas said, Foster forced the man into the house and began a long session of cajoling, pleading and threatening Gallardo for the money.

It was then that Gallardo’s mother, Josie Salas, heard the commotion in the living room and went in to see what was happening. She found her son being held at gunpoint by Foster, Thomas said.

When the son and mother couldn’t come up with the cash, Foster allegedly forced Salas, 49, to write him an $80 personal check. Thomas said that Foster then forced Gallardo back into the car and ordered him to drive to a couple of neighborhood check-cashing outlets.

But the amount was too large and both establishments refused to cash the check. Finally, about 7 p.m., Gallardo was released, unharmed, authorities said.

Meanwhile, Salas had called police and filed a complaint against Foster. But the police were unable to find Foster Monday night.

It’s a Small World

And so it was that, at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Salas walked into the Bank of America at 2000 S. Main St. in Santa Ana to issue a stop-payment order on the check. But there was Foster, trying to cash the check.

When he saw Salas, Thomas said, Foster approached her and offered to return the check if she didn’t call the police.

But by that time bank officials had figured out something was amiss and called police. A few moments later, Foster, the uncashed check still in his possession, walked out of the bank and into the arms of the law.

He was arrested without incident and was being held Tuesday night in County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery and kidnaping.