Grandfather of kidnapped boy arrested, Amber Alert Canceled Shortly After

Grandfather of kidnapped boy arrested

The grandfather of kidnapped 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger was arrested in Riverside, Calif., late Friday after Metro Police named him a person of interest.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's office said 51-year-old Clemens Fred Tinnemeyer was arrested by U.S. Marshals. He was taken to the Central Detention Center in the city of San Bernardino.

Metro Police said earlier Friday that they believed Cole's kidnapping was linked to Tinnemeyer's drug deals with Mexican nationals and that there were millions of dollars involved.

The child has not been found.

An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday after Cole was taken at gunpoint from a northeastern Las Vegas Valley home by two or three men posing as police officers. Metro Police believe that Tinnemeyer may be able to help them find the boy.

Police said they believe the men were Mexican drug dealers and that the child's kidnapping was a "message" to Tinnemeyer.

Tinnemeyer may have stolen millions of dollars from Mexican nationals, said Capt. Vincent Cannito. He declined to say whether the kidnappers had been seeking ransom for the boy.

Police said two or three Hispanic men knocked on the front door of the child's home. The mother answered the door and the men forced their way into the home. After ransacking the house, the men took Cole and left. There is no description of a vehicle and a description of one of the men say his is about 5-foot-7, weighs about 150 pounds and has long black, slicked-back hair.

Cole is 3-foot-11, weighs about 48 pounds and is wearing a black sweatshirt with blue, black and silver stars on it, black jeans, a belt and Van tennis shoes with a white stripe. He also wears silver- rimmed prescription glasses.

Anyone with information is urged to call Metro Police at 828-3111 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.