CRIME:

Police: Grandfather might lead them to kidnapped boy

Grandfather has ‘stolen a large sum of money’ from drug dealers, police say

Cydney Cappello

Metro Police Capt. Vincent Cannito answers questions about the Cole Puffinburger case during a Friday news conference.

By Mary Manning (contact)

Published Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | 11:14 a.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | 12:41 p.m.

Audio Clip

Capt. Vincent Cannito reveals details in the Cole Puffinburger case on Friday
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Friday's news conference

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A Neighborhood In Fear

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Neighbors of Cole Puffinburger talk about his kidnapping.

Clemens Fred Tinnemeyer

Metro Police

Tinnemeyer's 2004 Dodge pickup truck, last seen bearing Mississippi License tag KA6 251.

Metro Police

Cole Puffinburger

Oct. 16 -- Kidnapping leaves behind neighborhood of fear
Oct. 16 -- Police: Boy’s kidnapping linked to drug activity
Oct. 16 -- Latest kidnapping a reminder of unsolved 1978 abduction
Oct. 15 -- Amber Alert issued for boy, 6, kidnapped at gunpoint

UPDATE: Boy’s grandfather arrested; focus turns to 2 others

Fifty hours after 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger was kidnapped at gunpoint, Metro Police said they are looking for his grandfather, hoping he might lead them to the suspects who they believe are involved in drug dealing.

During a news conference Friday morning, police identified Clemens Fred Tinnemeyer, 51, as a person of interest in the case that began Wednesday morning in a quiet northeastern Las Vegas Valley neighborhood.

Cole has not been found, police said.

"The reason Cole was kidnapped was because of the drug dealing," Cannito said. Family members may be linked to methamphetamine dealing in Las Vegas, he said.

Metro Police on Thursday said Cole's kidnapping from his Cherry Grove Avenue home was linked to drug activity within the family.

"We are taking a very close look at every member of the family as well as friends and acquaintances," said Metro Police Capt. Vincent Cannito.

"We are dealing with millions of dollars" in drug money, Cannito said. "Tinnemeyer has stolen a large sum of money."

However, the No. 1 goal of Metro Police is to find Cole and bring him to safety, Cannito said. "We will not stop looking for the child."

Law enforcement agencies in Nevada, California, Arizona and Texas are on the lookout, as well as the U.S. Border Patrol, Cannito said.

Police said Tinnemeyer owns a sightseeing motorhome service and left the Las Vegas area on a sightseeing tour on May 21. He contacted a family member on Aug. 22 to say he was in Tennessee, but hasn't been heard from since then.

The family filed a missing persons report on Tennemeyer on Sept. 11, Cannito said.

Tinnemeyer might be driving the motorhome. He also owns a 2004 Dodge pickup truck, last seen bearing Mississippi license tag KA6 251.

He is described as white, 5-foot-10 and weighing 200 pounds or more with brown hair and green eyes, according to a missing person's description. He has a 4-inch scar on his right knee and a 3-inch scar on his left shoulder.

Police said up to three men knocked on the door at the child's home at about 7:23 a.m. Wednesday posing as police officers. After forcing their way into the house, they tied up the child's mother and her boyfriend, then ransacked the house. When the men didn't find money, they took Cole and left.

Cole is described as 3-foot-11 and weighing 48 pounds. He wears silver-rimmed prescription glasses and was last seen wearing a black John Cena WWE wrestling shirt, a sweatshirt with black, blue and silver stars on it, dark jeans, a belt and Vans tennis shoes with a white stripe, police said.

The suspects are described as Hispanic men. At least one man carried what police believe is a semi-automatic weapon. One is described as being in his 30s, weighing about 150 pounds and having long, slicked-back hair, police said. A second suspect is described as about 5-foot-7 and weighing 170 pounds.

At least 100 Metro Police detectives are working 12 hour shifts in an effort to locate the boy, Cannito said.

Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious around the boy's home to call them at 828-3111. Anyone who sees Cole is urged to call 911.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

By neiman1

10/17/08 at 2:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Why do we need to seal the borders? Why do we need to keep drugs out of the country? Why do we not prosecute every the Mayors and City Councils of every "santuary city" in America? Why would Barrack Obama want to give drivers licenses to illegals instead of deporting them?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1...
By Hingreed

10/17/08 at 4:07 p.m.

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The grandfather is a creep. He knows that if he turns himself in, the Mexican cartel will find him and kill him. If he stays hidden, then the boy will be hurt. This is a hard lesson for everyone. Drugs and the mob just don't mix. I hope they find the boy. I'll adopt him myself if it comes down to it.

-Hingreed
By CAPRAYERS

10/17/08 at 4:12 p.m.

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Everybody needs to keep their political bulls*** to themselves and be more concerned in the safety of an innocent Child... You can't judge people unless you actually know them, stop all the finger point, Cole's what's important and who's to blame can wait until he is home safe...
Imagine what it would be like if it was your child that was taken
By LaDiDa

10/17/08 at 4:44 p.m.

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I don't get all the angst towards illegal Mexicans from neiman1 and the rest of the people in the comment section of all these articles on the kidnapping.

They really aren't the issue here.

Obviously the child is first and foremost, but on top of that the grandfather seems to be involved in some sort of meth deal gone wrong. People cracked out like this grandfather will go to whoever has the drugs that they need. If it wasn't the illegal Mexican cartel, it would be some other group that preys on these drug addicts. If whatever you are proposing to slow down the flow of illegals had happened, that still wouldn't ensure that something like this kidnapping wouldn't have happened just the same.

Basically, outside of the fact that your rants are classless at a time like this, they lack relevance regarding the issue at hand.
By USAJustice

10/17/08 at 6:11 p.m.

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The reason why people bring up politics, unsealed borders and illegal immigrants is because DIRECTLY those issue are the result of AN INNOCENT CHILD BEING KIDNAPPED. We NEED TO learn from these mistakes. Today it is the Puffinburger family and tomorrow it could be mine or yours (though I am aware the grandfather was involved in this drug cartel).

PRAY FOR THIS INNOCENT ADORABLE AMERICAN CHILD.
By Tokoloshe

10/17/08 at 6:15 p.m.

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This is not just a meth deal gone wrong. mexico is having unprecedented drug wars and murders right now, check news stories south of the el paso border, 120 murders a month in that border city down there. We will see more of these problems in bordering states, this is just the beginning.
I agree with hingreed, i would adopt the little guy myself, i hope they find him.
By Tokoloshe

10/17/08 at 6:38 p.m.

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I also say we string up clem tinnemeyer and the
kidnappers by their "_____".
By neiman1

10/18/08 at 4:40 a.m.

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The reason people want to BLAME our open borders and stop the madness is we don't want more children facing the same next week or next month. Over 60 kidnappings of American citizens taken to Mexico in San Diego County alone this year are the reason. This is just the first time its been about a child and in Nevada. This is going on daily on our border and no one seems to care.
By Lenny_V

10/18/08 at 5:32 a.m.

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The government will NEVER seal the borders. It's part of their North American union (ala EU) with the US, Canada and Mexico.
By Lenny_V

10/18/08 at 5:33 a.m.

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Correction, the only time they will seal the border is to STOP citizens leaving.
By annienonymouse

10/18/08 at 5:41 a.m.

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Hey, folks! They've caught this idiot! Where's the news flash!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/18/neva...
By Panapada

10/18/08 at 6:32 a.m.

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With the arrest of the Grandfather, things do not look good for Cole. The Mexican Cartel now knows that they will never get their money back because the Feds will be all over it. Their one option is to get rid of the excess baggage and to send a message to the next Money Launderier to remember what happened to Clem Tinnemeyer when he crossed them. Cole, people around the world are praying for you. With the Italian Mob, families were off limits; this is not the case with the new Mexican Mob. We have lost the war on drugs; it is time to legalize all drugs to take the profit out of the drug trade. No, I am not a druggie, I wouldn't walk across the street for a beer if they were giving them away.
By Common_Cents

10/18/08 at 11:21 a.m.

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Come on, drug users... tell us again how this is all the fault of the efforts to fight drugs and that legalization it the only solution.

Any time, druggies.

Oh wait...most of you are still in bed yet, aren't you? I keep forgetting that most of you don't have jobs and just mooch off of your families.

http://lagniappeslair.blogspot.com/
By LaDiDa

10/18/08 at 1:31 p.m.

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Is Ron Paul a druggie?
By R_Linn

10/18/08 at 10:33 p.m.

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probably