Ishmael Castejon-Gulzar, 24, of Atlanta and Ricardo Coacio Reyes, 30, Norcross, Ga. are charged with kidnapping.
FORT LEE - Port Authority Police officers stopped a car on the George Washington Bridge on Thursday that they say carried two suspected kidnappers who drove here with their victim from Georgia.
Ishmael Castejon-Gulzar, 24, of Atlanta and Ricardo Coacio Reyes, 30, Norcross, Ga. are accused of kidnapping and are being held in the Bergen County Jail on $2 million bail, authorities said. (Port Authority Police Department) The 39-year-old victim had been stabbed in the leg at an undisclosed location shortly before he was kidnapped Tuesday, authorities said.
The man, whose name was not released, was taken by ambulance to Englewood Hospital, where he was being treated, police said.
The incident came to the attention of police in New York and New Jersey on Thursday morning after police in Gwinnet County, Ga. received a call from a resident stating a family member had been kidnapped on Tuesday and driven to New Jersey, according to Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority Police Department.
"The family member told police the kidnappers and victim were on the New Jersey Turnpike headed toward the George Washington Bridge," Pentangelo said.
Pentangelo said the victim had been threatened with a black semiautomatic handgun throughout the two-day trip up Interstate 95 to New Jersey.
Gun recovered from alleged kidnappers. (PAPD) The caller described the car as a 2014 Toyota Camry with Georgia plates.
"The Port Authority police officers took up positions near the toll plaza and soon saw car with Georgia plates," Pentangelo said. "They positioned themselves behind the Toyota, confirmed that it was the car in question, and they pulled the vehicle over."
Officers stopped the car about 10 a.m. on the westbound side of the bridge and ordered the three men out.
The victim had been seated in the passenger seat as one suspect drove the car and the other sat directly behind the victim, the spokesman said.
A loaded 9mm Glock pistol was recovered from the car, according to police.
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"The victim informed police that he was the victim of a kidnapping and was driven from Georgia to New York against his will by the suspects," Pentangelo said. "The victim reported that he had been stabbed in his left leg before they began the drive to New York."
The suspects were identified as Ishmael Castejon-Gulzar, 24, of Atlanta and Ricardo Coacio Reyes, 30, Norcross, Ga., the spokesman said.
The suspects were charged with kidnapping, carjacking, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal restraint. They were each held on $2 million bail.
Pentangelo said he did not know why the alleged kidnapping occurred or how the family member who called police became aware of the alleged crime.
"All of that is under investigation," Pentangelo said.
Westbound traffic on the upper level of the bridge was stopped for about 15 minutes as police arrested the suspects, removed the victim and impounded the vehicle.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.