Third suspect charged in brutal kidnapping in Northwest San Antonio

Christopher Martinez, 26, faces a charge of aggravated kidnapping, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Christopher Martinez, 26, faces a charge of aggravated kidnapping, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Photo: Bexar County Sheriff's Office Photo: Bexar County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 66 Caption Close Third suspect charged in brutal kidnapping in Northwest San Antonio 1 / 66 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies are still nipping at the heels of a group of suspects accused of beating two men and holding them for ransom following a botched drug deal early in December.

Christopher Martinez, 23, was taken into custody over the weekend on a charge of aggravated kidnapping for his alleged role in the ordeal.

According to police, Martinez, along with several accomplices, allegedly tied up and assaulted Diego Sanchez and Michael Solano on Dec. 6 at a Fiesta Inn at 4934 NW Loop 410 after failing to complete an exchange of $500 for methamphetamine.

Martinez is the third suspect to be nabbed in the case. Patricia Aguirre, 31, and Francisco Moreno, 24, were arrested shortly after the incident on the same charges.

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office spokesman James Keith, however, says investigators aren’t done.

“We are still looking for other people,” Keith said. “(There are) at least two more we believe were involved.”

According to the affidavit, Sanchez and Solano originally met the suspects at the Motel 6 at 2185 SW Loop 410 to arrange the transaction.

The document states the drug deal was "botched" when the supplier didn't deliver the remaining half of the drugs that the suspects had already paid for.

Aguirre, Martinez and Moreno then took the victims one at time to room 329 of the Fiesta Inn, where the trio and two other suspects bound the two victims with duct tape and took turns assaulting them with guns pointed at them, the affidavit said.

Sanchez's mother alerted deputies Dec. 7 after she received photos of her son bound and badly beaten, according to the document. Sheriff's deputies were then able to trace the location of the victim's phone to the Fiesta Inn and set up surveillance outside the motel.

“We don’t often see kidnapping situations on a regular basis, not to say that they don’t happen,” Keith said. “But this is an example of how far people are willing to go when it comes to securing drugs and money associated with drugs.”

Aguirre was apprehended at the scene, and Moreno afterward when he tried to escape with both of the victims in a Gray Ford Focus from the hotel parking lot, the affidavit states. According to the document, Martinez originally fled the scene without being apprehended by police.

Staff Writer Leezia Dhalla contributed to this report.

mdwilson@express-news.net

Twitter: @MDWilsonSA