3 Men Suspected of Holding Aliens, Raping Wife

San Diego police Thursday arrested three men, thought to be alien smugglers, on suspicion of false imprisonment, robbery and rape after a man they purportedly held captive was released and contacted police, authorities said.

A 26-year-old Mexican national and his 35-year-old wife are believed to have paid several smugglers an initial $200 to be taken from Tijuana to Los Angeles last Friday. Police said the smugglers took them to a residence in the 4300 block of Dwight Street instead, where they robbed the couple, raped the woman and detained the pair until Thursday.

When the smugglers finally released the man near the 2200 block of Main Street in Chula Vista about 1:25 a.m., he called police.

A SWAT team was called in to surround the Dwight Street residence about 3:50 a.m. because the man told police the smugglers were armed and possibly intoxicated, police spokesman Dave Cohen said.

“Before they (the SWAT team) could make any contact with the people inside, the front door opened and one of the people came out, apparently to stretch or take a short walk. He was then taken into custody, and SWAT moved in and arrested the other individuals,” Cohen said.

The woman was found locked in a garage, hysterical and frightened, Cohen said. He said she and her husband were not arrested.

Charges of rape and sodomy will be sought against Manuel Medrano, 25, Cohen said. Medrano, Juan Ramirez, 22, of Santa Maria and Jose Hurtado, 27, of Tijuana, all could face charges relating to the robbery and false imprisonment of the couple, Cohen said.

Two other aliens were also found at the residence.