Sun, Jul 05, 2009

Tucson Region

4 arrested in home invasion over debt collection in S.V.

By Alexis Huicochea
arizona daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.29.2008
One woman and three men were arrested Wednesday after a home invasion in which two people were held for more than five hours and assaulted, police said.
The incident was the result of a debt that was owed to the property owner by two roommates, according to a news release from the Sierra Vista Police Department.
The property owner — 19-year-old Nicole Snyder — had a dispute with the roommates and gave them until Sept. 5 to pay their debts and move out, the release said.
On Wednesday, Snyder and three men went to the home to collect the debt. The men were armed with a knife, a set of brass knuckles and an expandable baton, the release said.
One victim was hit in the head with the baton and fists several times and was held at knifepoint, the release said. The other was struck with the brass knuckles.
One of the victims also had bleach and alcohol poured over the body, the release said.
Both were tied to chairs.
One victim was driven to a bank and forced to withdraw the money that was owed.
The incident ended when one of the victims was able to escape and call 911.
Snyder, 19; William Bechtel, 20; Robert Canfield, 19; and Patrick Blair, 21; were arrested on suspicion of two counts of armed robbery, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of first-degree burglary.
All but Blair are from Sierra Vista. Blair is from Chandler.
They were booked into the Cochise County jail and are being held on $250,000 bonds.
● Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at 573-4242 or ahuicochea@azstarnet.com.