North Bergen man accused of kidnapping boss at knifepoint to get money for child support

HACKENSACK — A North Bergen man allegedly kidnapped his boss, wielding a knife and threatening him with a gun to force him to pay for his child support, police said.

After allegedly phoning his boss and pleading for money to pay his child support last Thursday, Luis Vasconez came into work the next day with a utility knife. Vasconez brandished the knife and threatened his manager, forcing him to drive him to the bank to get money, police said.

Vasconez, 37, sat in the passenger seat of his boss' car, pointing the knife at him and threatening him with a gun he said was in his backpack, police said. 

"I have nothing to lose," Vasconez said to his boss, according to police. "I'll kill you."

On Friday, the day after the phone call to his boss, Vasconez, who started work at Aura Car & Limo days earlier, came into work and threatened his boss, Capt. Peter Busciglio said. The boss told Vasconez that he would pay for his child support, but Vasconez wanted more money, Busciglio said.

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"Apparently the guy works there as a trainee," Busciglio said. "He asked the manager for money to pay child support. The next day he wound up showing up at the business and he again asked for money, brandished a utility knife and said he was going to kill him."

After arriving at Connect One Bank on Railroad Avenue, the boss entered the bank and notified the bank teller that he had been kidnapped and to lock the door so Vasconez could not enter. He then called police, who arrested Vasconez as he walked away from the bank, Busciglio said.

Vasconez was arrested on charges of kidnapping, robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and terroristic threats. On Friday, Vasconez was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending a court appearance. Calls to the county jail's inmate information line did not identify Vasconez in the system.

Email: torrejon@northjersey.com