Jorge Coello, whose mug shot is pictured, was arrested Sunday for allegedly kidnapping, holding captive and sexually assaulting his girlfriend. (SBPD photo)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
A local man faces charges of sexual abuse after officers with the San Benito Police Department arrested him on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend and keeping her captive in his mobile home.
SBPD Detective Rogelio Banda, Jr. said the incident began at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, September 23, at the Super 8 Motel, located on the 2300 block of West Expressway 83. That’s where the victim, a 39-year-old female, was involved in an argument with the suspect, her boyfriend. Banda added that the two were at the motel “socializing” with several other people.
According to the detective, the disagreement became physical when the woman’s boyfriend allegedly forced her into his green pickup truck, a Ford Ranger, and drove in known direction.
Police were alerted to the incident after a 19-year-old female, who Banda said was at the social with the couple, called 911 to report the kidnapping.
“They got into a confrontation, he became upset and drags her to the vehicle and leaves,” Banda said.
It wasn’t until 5:40 a.m. that authorities got a break in the case. A concerned citizen, who identified himself as the ex-husband of the victim, called police and notified them that she had been calling him for help. The caller also identified the suspect as a man named Jorge.
“He made the right choice of calling us, because initially the information we received only included the nickname (of the suspect) that the 19-year-old provided,” Banda said of the caller’s assistance. “We didn’t know where she (victim) lived or who her family was, but after we pieced it together we noticed that it was the same female who had been taken by force at the Super 8.”
Further investigation uncovered that the woman was being held at a mobile home, located on the 1500 block of Combes Street, belonging to a man identified as 42-year-old Jorge Coello.
“We proceeded to check some addresses we had in our database, and at that point a couple of officers were sent to check those locations,” Banda said. “Soon enough they find that green truck.”
The victim exited the mobile home, reportedly displaying visible signs that she had been assaulted, upon officers’ arrival. “She was really scared,” Banda said. “[The victim] told officers that she had been kidnapped, held against her will and raped by Jorge Coello.”
At one point, police said the victim attempted to escape but was “dragged back inside the mobile” home, where her alleged assault continued.
Coello was placed under arrest for kidnapping, sexual assault, unlawful restraint and continuous violence against family. He was then taken to city jail where he was arraigned by Municipal Court Judge Ben Yudesis. Coello is currently incarcerated at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito on bonds totaling $350,000.
The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
Read this story in Wednesday’s paper, the September 26 edition, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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