Modesto man accused of extorting parents while holding father hostage
A Modesto man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly holding his father hostage while he extorted $1,000 from him and his mother.
Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Lt. Josh Clayton said the suspect showed up at his parents’ home in the 1200 block of Sam Avenue in south Modesto on Wednesday afternoon under the influence of methamphetamine.
He said the suspect punched his father in the face and threatened to kill him, then told his mother he’d leave if they gave him $1,000.
The mother left the home and returned with the cash, but as the father tried to get up and get away from his son, he pushed him down and demanded another $500, Clayton said.
The mother left again but this time called police around 2 p.m., he said.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene along with the department’s airplane and Hostage Negotiation Team. Patrol deputies who are also members of the SWAT team assembled as part of an entry team, but they ultimately did not need to go inside the home.
Around 3:30 p.m., the father, who was on the phone with a hostage negotiator, indicated that his son had calmed down, so the negotiator told him to walk outside, Clayton said.
The father did and his son followed him, but the son stayed in the front yard while the father kept walking toward deputies, Clayton said.
Deputies moved in on the suspect and took him into custody at gunpoint, he said.
Alejandro Chavez, 34, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment and making criminal threats.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 12:33 PM.
