Police search northeast; kidnapped boy still missing

Police have yet to find 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger but authorities are currently combing an area in the northeast Las Vegas Valley as part of the ongoing investigation, police said at an afternoon news conference.

Cole's grandfather, Clemens Fred "Clem" Tinnemeyer was arrested in Riverside, Calif., Friday evening by a fugitive task force. Tinnemeyer, named Friday as a "person of interest" by police, was arrested on a federal material witness warrant and was being held today in San Bernardino.

Police have now developed two additional "persons of interest." One has been interviewed and is working with police. The other, Jesus Gastelum, was developed as a result of the ongoing investigation.

Las Vegas police Capt. Vincent Cannito said police have "uncovered a large amount of cash" through search warrants served in the last 24 hours in multiple jurisdictions.

Police are combing an area bounded by Nellis Boulevard, Pecos Road, and Craig and Cheyenne avenues, believing there might be information about the whereabouts of Cole to be found there.

An Amber Alert that had been in effect has been canceled because it is no longer effective, Cannito said.

Police found the 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck that belongs to Tinnemeyer, Cannito said.

Three men believed to be Mexican nationals stormed Cole's east valley home Wednesday and were looking for money Tinnemeyer had stolen through drug trafficking, primarily in methamphetamine, according to police.

When the men couldn't find the money, they took Cole, police said.

Tinnemeyer hadn't been seen in Las Vegas since May 21. Sources have said he was an alleged money launderer for a Mexican drug cartel, which he owes $8 million to $20 million.

Police said they believe the kidnapping was an attempt by the drug dealers to send a "message" to Tinnemeyer.