Kidnaped Executive Rescued From Pit in N.Y. Rail Yard

NEW YORK — Police rescued a business executive Monday from a rail yard pit where he had been buried for almost two weeks by kidnapers who extorted a $3-million ransom from his family.

Two people were arrested, one of them an employee of the victim, police said, and at least half the ransom was recovered.

Television news footage showed rescuers pulling Harvey Weinstein, filthy and exhausted, from the 14-foot pit in a rail yard in the city’s borough of Manhattan.

“Detectives searching for Mr. Weinstein in that area this afternoon climbed a steep hill calling his name. They heard a response, ‘I’m here,’ ” said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

He said Weinstein’s first words to his rescuers were: “Thank God you’re here, and I’d like to have a cigarette.”

Weinstein, 68, who appeared shaken but relieved, smiled broadly after the rescue. He was taken to a hospital for observation.

The two men who were arrested were identified as Fermin Rodriguez and Francisco Antonio Rodriguez.

Kelly said the men were related but didn’t say how. He said Fermin Rodriguez was a sewing-machine operator at Lord West Formalwear, a tuxedo company where Weinstein is chief executive officer.

Kelly said Weinstein was last seen on Aug. 4 at a diner where he stopped each morning for breakfast.

Sometime after that, Weinstein’s kidnapers demanded $3 million and sent his family a tape of Weinstein’s voice urging them to pay, the commissioner said.

Twice during the next 11 days, the family was directed to deliver the money to various locations, Kelly said, but the exchange was never completed.

Then, on Sunday night, the kidnapers demanded that the cash be dropped off at an Upper Manhattan street corner and the family complied.

Kelly would not say what then led police the next day to the pit, which was covered with a door.

He said the detectives had to dig with their hands to uncover the steel door imprisoning Weinstein.

“The investigation is ongoing. At this time we are questioning other people in relationship to this kidnaping,” Kelly said.