2 Held in Kidnaping of Nightclub Manager

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of abducting the manager of a Northridge nightclub and demanding $15,000 ransom, police said Tuesday.

The 36-year-old manager was freed unharmed from a van in San Diego near an area where his family was told to leave the ransom money, said Los Angeles Police Detective Mike Watson. The manager’s name was not released because a third suspect remains at large.

Arrested were Jesus Madera, 31, and Ruben Sanchez, 25, both believed to be from Tijuana, Watson said.

Madera and Sanchez, who were being held in Los Angeles County jails, were scheduled for arraignment in San Fernando Municipal Court today on kidnaping charges, Watson said.

Watson said the incident occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday as the manager was locking up the El Majestic nightclub, 17021 Roscoe Blvd. Two men armed with handguns forced him to lie down in the back of his truck, drove about 10 minutes and transferred him into the van where he was held captive about 35 hours.

His family received a series of calls Saturday night demanding that cash be delivered to San Diego in exchange for the victim’s life, Watson said. He said Los Angeles and San Diego police placed the drop-off site under surveillance, then arrested the two men about 12:30 p.m. Sunday when they came to the site.