New York man faked own kidnapping to extort ransom from girlfriend, police say
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Authorities say a 31-year-old man in upstate New York faked his own kidnapping to extort ransom from his girlfriend.
Police in Plattekill in Ulster County tell the Times Herald-Record of Middletown that Mark Rodriguez left for work in his girlfriend's car on Jan. 14. Officials say the woman later received a telephone call from a stranger saying her boyfriend had been kidnapped and she needed to hand over $2,000 or he would be killed.
She contacted police, who tracked other calls made to her. Police began a search and found Rodriguez and an accomplice inside the girlfriend's car in the city of Newburgh. He was unharmed.
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Rodriguez was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted grand larceny. He has been released from jail after posting bail.
It couldn't be determined if he had a lawyer.