Officers were called Saturday to Weyl Street in the northeast part of the city for the report of someone being held against their will.
Street signs at Weyl Street and Joseph Avenue in Rochester are pictured Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Rochester, N.Y. — Officers in the Clinton Avenue section were called Saturday to Weyl Street in the northeast part of the city for the report of someone being held against their will.
"Time essentially stood still as they were being terrorized and afflicted with physical injuries," explained Captain Sam Lucyshyn of the Rochester Police Department. Police said one of the victims reported that he and his cousin had gone to the house to buy drugs and instead were held captive for hours over an alleged drug debt. "They were bound with duct tape, and then they were tortured," Lucyshyn said. "They were hit with weapons. They had a dog essentially being ordered to bite them in order to elicit payment, and obviously puts fear into them and cause physical injury. So, one of the victims suggested, 'Hey, I can get your money taken over to this location.'" After being taken to the second location, one of the victims managed to signal to someone that they were in danger, and 911 was called. Police said once officers arrived at the home, the suspect, later identified as Wilson Ventura-Cruz, 22, of West Reading, Pennsylvania, ran outside. Police took him into custody in a nearby backyard with a handgun, loaded with 12 rounds, next to him.They said that's when someone threw another handgun, loaded with 27 rounds, out of a window on the side of the house, police said. Officers quickly surrounded the house, and a second victim, bound with duct tape, came running outside. "This endeavor lasted several hours and obviously was extremely torturous for the victims," Lucyshyn said. Police said three more suspects eventually came outside and were arrested: Carlos Dejesus, 26, Eliezer Davila, 43, and Rose Colon, 46, all of Rochester. During the search of the home, police said they recovered nearly 300 vials of suspected fentanyl and a bloody sword. "One of them may lose a finger as a result of the assaults that were inflicted upon them," Lucyshyn said. "It was horrific for them. So very grateful that the police were able to respond and so efficiently, so quickly, and so safely take the suspects into custody and rescue the victims." All four suspects were charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said DeJesus was also charged with an outstanding parole warrant from Pennsylvania.ICE: Man arrested in Rochester previously tried to kill sister for being 'bad Muslim girl' U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released more information Monday about its recent arrest of an Afghan man in Rochester.Four people face charges after police said they kidnapped two victims, held them hostage and assaulted them before one of the victims called for help.Officers were called Saturday to Weyl Street in the northeast part of the city for the report of someone being held against their will.A teen is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty Monday to first-degree manslaughter for a deadly shooting last year on the city's southwest side.As America nears its 250th birthday, one man has made it his mission to run across all 50 states and learn more about the people who make up the nation.
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