East Bay pair face kidnapping charges

Two men could face life in prison after being charged with kidnapping an Oakland businessman, who was rescued after police found him tied up in the trunk of a car that officers had chased to Hayward, authorities said Thursday.

Cesar Salsamendi, 45, of San Leandro and Daniel Arevalosarvia, 22, of Oakland are being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail for allegedly abducting Antonio Pelayo and demanding a $ 150,000 ransom.

Alameda County prosecutors charged both men with kidnapping for ransom, second- degree robbery, evading police, carrying a loaded gun and carrying a concealed firearm in a car. If convicted of the kidnapping charge, they could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The men accosted Pelayo, 59, of San Leandro in a parking lot at East 12th and High streets in East Oakland about 10: 45 p. m. May 21, authorities said. They contacted Pelayo’s family and demanded a ransom for his return, police said.

They allegedly held him hostage overnight at Salsamendi’s home on Blanco Street in San Leandro. There, Salsamendi pointed a loaded gun at Pelayo in the garage and robbed him of his wallet, authorities said.

Police set up surveillance outside the home after learning that it was a “house of interest per a related kidnapping case,” police said in court documents.

About 8 a. m. on May 22, police spotted Arevalosarvia leaving the home in a Buick and began chasing him, authorities said. The car crashed on Mission Boulevard near Paradise Boulevard in Hayward.

Pelayo was found blindfolded, tied up and bound in the trunk of the Buick, police said. Officers did not know until after the pursuit that the victim was in the trunk.