A businessman was kidnapped from his South Cottonwood business Tuesday and taken to a Las Vegas hotel, where he later escaped.
Four men have been arrested in Las Vegas in connection with the kidnapping. A fifth man may have been arrested, but the FBI would not confirm details.In fact, the Salt Lake office of the FBI said they knew very little about the case, even though they are the investigating agency. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and the FBI office in Las Vegas referred all inquiries to Salt Lake's FBI office.
"I just have no more details. It's still an ongoing investigation, and it's regarded as highly sensitive," FBI spokesman Ron VanVranken said Wednesday and again Thurs-day.
Carl Martin, 61, was apparently abducted from Allied International, a herbal health products business. The FBI refused to confirm his identity, but Salt Lake County deputy sheriffs processed his business at 4931 S. 900 East Wednesday for possible evidence to the crime.
At least four people and possibly others kidnapped the man about 7:30 a.m. and drove him to a hotel in Las Vegas. He was bound to a toilet in the hotel room and somehow managed to escape and notify authorities.
He told police he was sprayed with Mace, bound and gagged. The kidnappers demanded $3.5 million from Martin, according to at least one unconfirmed report.
Officers surrounded the hotel and arrested four men.
VanVranken refused to confirm anything about the victim or even the location where the kidnapping occurred. He said investigators don't know the motive for the kidnapping.