Indexes
November 2nd, 2009
November 6th, 2009
November 5th, 2009
November 4th, 2009
November 3rd, 2009
November 2nd, 2009
October 31st, 2009
October 30th, 2009
The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
- Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
- Gated communities in Lodi (112)
- I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (99)
- The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (82)
- David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (60)
- Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (55)
- Universal health care solves big problems (40)
- Words from our forefathers (26)
- With resolve and imagination, Downtown Lodi can surge once again (24)
- 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home (18)
ADVERTISEMENT
Lodi girl one of four kidnapped, then later released unharmed
An 18-year-old Lodi girl was one of several people kidnapped and ultimately released unharmed Monday night in what authorities believe was a case involving the breakup of a relationship.
The incident began on Cole Drive in Morada, when Richard Alexander Cantu, 23, went to a home there, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department. The Lodi girl was there visiting her 18-year-old boyfriend, whose sister had recently broken up with Cantu.
Cantu allegedly held them at gunpoint, ordering the couple to get into his silver Ford F-250 truck. He forced the boy to drive to the girl's house on Rockingham Circle in Lodi, where they then got into the boy's 1994 Lexus, according to a Sheriff's report.
Cantu ordered the boy to drive to a Union 76 gas station in Clements for gas, then back to Lodi to a Bradford Circle home where one of the Lodi girl's friends lived. Cantu reportedly threatened the boy's life and ordered the girl to go in the house and get a cell phone.
The girl did so, but managed to tell her friend that something was wrong before she left, according to Lodi police, who were called.
In the meantime, Cantu forced the boy to drive to a coffee shop in Clements. Still holding a gun, he ordered the girl to text message the boy's 19-year-old sister, Cantu's ex-girlfriend, saying that her brother was in trouble and that she was to meet them alone.
She did so, but had a 20-year-old man drive her, meeting them in a driveway at Highway 88 and Liberty Road. When they arrived, Cantu allegedly kidnapped both his ex-girlfriend and the man, forcing both into the man's gray 1992 Jeep, deputies said. The Lodi girl and her boyfriend were then left behind.
Cantu made his former girlfriend drive, at one point stopping near a vineyard at North Alpine Road and Bella Vina Way, where she convinced Cantu to throw a Walter 22-caliber handgun from the vehicle, according to the Sheriff's report.
They kept driving until they came across California Highway Patrol officers on Highway 12, who took Cantu into custody.
The loaded handgun was later recovered, and Cantu was jailed on more than $500,000 bail.
Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.
Search for Ads 
Today’s Print Ads 
RSS Feeds
Reader Feedback
Lodian wrote on Aug 13, 2007 6:07 PM:
WY wrote on Aug 13, 2007 1:03 PM:
WY wrote on Aug 13, 2007 1:01 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 11, 2007 9:54 PM:
George wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:40 PM:
George wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:39 PM:
Lodi Living wrote on Aug 11, 2007 8:03 AM:
Seriously! wrote on Aug 10, 2007 8:43 AM:
mj wrote on Aug 9, 2007 7:15 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 9, 2007 4:20 PM:
right word wrote on Aug 9, 2007 7:44 AM:
Fishy wrote on Aug 9, 2007 7:41 AM:
Another Cantu in the news? wrote on Aug 8, 2007 8:06 PM:
dave wrote on Aug 8, 2007 6:02 PM:
GovAgent wrote on Aug 8, 2007 2:53 PM:
Bizarro wrote on Aug 8, 2007 2:40 PM:
To LNS wrote on Aug 8, 2007 1:13 PM:
gtzm wrote on Aug 8, 2007 12:12 PM:
Ok, just use names for goodness sake... wrote on Aug 8, 2007 9:17 AM:
S & W 500 wrote on Aug 8, 2007 8:04 AM:
Dear Editors wrote on Aug 8, 2007 7:44 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.