Two people arraigned in Friday abduction case
Two people from the Mount Pleasant area have been charged with assaulting, beating and abducting a 32-year-old Lansing man.
Juan Montoya-Pego, a 27-year-old member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Nicole Jackson, a 26-year-old Mount Pleasant resident, were arraigned in the 76th District Court in Mount Pleasant today in connection to the beating.
According to a police press release, the victim, while attending a party on Isabella Road early Friday afternoon, was assaulted by the suspects, bound by duct tape, thrown in the
back of a truck and then dumped in a Grand Rapids alley 80 miles away.
Montoya-Pego assaulted him and held a knife to his throat, while Jackson allegedly bound his mouth, shoulders, ankles and wrists with duct tape, police said. The suspects also stole his phone, wallet and ID.
Sergeant Del Putnam of the Michigan State Police Mount Pleasant post said the victim was dumped around 11 a.m. Friday in Grand Rapids, where many witnesses saw the victim removed from the truck. He was dumped in an alley near Turner Avenue and Mrytle Street.
"He had some minor injuries, but he's doing fine," Putnam said.
The victim then went to the Grand Rapids Police, who helped conduct the investigation with the help of state, local and federal agencies. The suspects were taken into custody within 48 hours of the victim's report being filed.
Putnam said the victim knew Montoya-Pego.
Troopers executed a search warrant at 707 S. Isabella Road, where the party allegedly occurred and recovered the victim's property.
A 22-year-old Saginaw man found at the residence was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for unrelated charges.
Montoya-Pego is charged with armed-robbery, unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon. He remains lodged in Isabella County Jail on a $500,000 bond, Putnam said. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Jackson remains lodged in Isabella County Jail on a $200,000 bond and is charged with unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon. She faces up to 15 years in prison.
Check cm-life.com for more updates.
