COSTA MESA : 2 Held on Suspicion of Kidnaping, Theft

A 25-year-old man who went to sleep in his car after having a fight with his mother was awakened at 4 a.m. Wednesday by two men intent on kidnaping him, authorities said.

The man managed to escape a short time later when his car stalled in Newport Beach and the three got out to push it, police said.

Jason Gugino was sleeping outside of his mother’s apartment in the 500 block of Bernard Street when the armed men forced him to drive, Lt. John FitzPatrick said. “He pretended he lived in Newport Beach and he offered to buy some beer for the suspects.”

Gugino drove to a home in the 900 block of Balboa Boulevard, said he lived there and knocked at the door of the residence but was told to go away. He was then forced to get back into the car.

“They then drove to a convenience store in Newport Beach where the car stalls,” FitzPatrick said. “The three get out to push-start the vehicle and the victim runs into the convenience store and asks the clerk to call 911, which he does.”

Police arrived at the Stop and Go store in the 4000 block of East Coast Highway and arrested Jose Rangel and Jaime Sanchez, both 18, of Costa Mesa. Police said they also recovered a .22-caliber handgun inside the car.

Rangel and Sanchez are being held at Orange County Jail on suspicion of kidnaping and car theft. Bail has been set at $50,000 each.