Missing Ontario Man Telling Harrowing Abduction Story

An Ontario man reported missing July 14 by family is telling a harrowing story of being kidnapped from his family’s home, robbed and released in the Mexican city of Tijuana, Police officials said Tuesday.

Ontario Police returned 23-year-old Joseph Anthony Garcia to his home Monday after being contacted by San Diego Police authorities that he was in their custody.

Garcia was reported missing by his family about 8 a.m. on July 14 from their home in the 1800 Block of North Orange Avenue.

Family members told officials they had expected Garcia home early Sunday. He reportedly attended a Dodgers game then gone to his part-time job, as a musician, at a Lakewood Night Club.

Instead police said family members found Garcia’s vehicle in their driveway. The driver’s side door was left open and recently purchased bags of fast food were found inside.

Garcia told police he was abducted at gunpoint. Once in Tijuana, however, they released him, officials said.

“It is unknown why they decided to release him, but they did rob him of a large amount of money prior to release,” said Ontario Police Sgt. David McBride.

Garcia told police he was left in an alley on Monday and took a taxi to the US border where Mexican authorities escorted him to meet with American officials, McBride said. San Diego Police picked him up from the border and contacted Ontario Police officials who picked him up from the San Diego station and returned him to Ontario by about 5 p.m.

Detectives continue to investigate the incident and there are no suspect descriptions at this point, McBride said.