Driver’s actions praised

Las Vegas police hailed the bus driver who found kidnapped 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger as a hero Monday, the same day authorities in Southern California disclosed the arrest of a woman with ties to the boy's grandfather.

Police in Fontana, Calif., arrested Terri Leavy, 42, about 4:45 p.m. Sunday during a routine pedestrian stop, Fontana police Sgt. Jeff Decker said.

She was turned over to the FBI and held on a federal material witness warrant in connection with Cole's kidnapping.

Leavy appeared in a federal court in Riverside, Calif., on Monday afternoon with Clemens Tinnemeyer, Cole's maternal grandfather.

David Staretz, an FBI spokesman in Las Vegas, described Leavy as Tinnemeyer's girlfriend. Tinnemeyer was arrested late Friday on a material witness warrant.

During the pair's hearing, U.S. Magistrate Oswald Parada ordered them to be detained and turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The two will be taken to Las Vegas, where they will remain in custody as material witnesses.

Under federal law, they can be held for a "reasonable amount of time" until a deposition can be taken or they testify under oath. Leavy and Tinnemeyer have not been charged in the case.

Las Vegas police believe Cole's kidnapping Wednesday morning was intended to send a message to Tinnemeyer for stealing millions of dollars from drug dealers.

It is believed that the grandfather took millions of dollars from a Mexican drug cartel, according to sources.

Staretz said federal agents throughout the Western United States and Mexico City were involved in the investigation.

"It may lead to Mexican nationals and criminal groups, and it may not," Staretz said.

Las Vegas police Capt. Vincent Cannito said detectives with his agency have worked closely with the FBI to develop "several significant leads" in finding Cole's kidnappers.

Authorities have uncovered large amounts of cash during search warrants and continued to search for several "persons of interest" as the investigation widened to include drug trafficking and extortion.

Cannito said authorities continued to search for Jesus Gastelum, a Mexican citizen who Cannito said also used the name Ferdinand Gastelum.

Gastelum, who is in his mid-30s, is believed to be in Las Vegas or Southern California, police have said. Cannito declined to identify any of the other "persons of interest."

Cole spoke with investigators and showed no signs of abuse, Cannito said. He was released to the custody of his father, Robert Puffinburger, he said.

The boy was held for about four days before his captors released him late Saturday near Oakey Boulevard and 17th Street, near Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway.

Bus driver Julio Diaz was taking a passenger home when he noticed the boy alone on a sidewalk about 10:30 p.m.

Diaz, who has been driving buses for 14 months, said he knew something was wrong because the child was alone so late. And although a picture of blond Cole and his toothy grin had circulated around the nation, Diaz didn't immediately recognize the boy.

Diaz stopped the bus for the boy, who got on and identified himself as Cole. He asked to be taken to a specific address. Diaz immediately called bus dispatchers, and a passenger called police.

Detectives, who were in the neighborhood, rushed to the bus and positively identified Cole.

"I feel good, great, that everything turned out OK for the family and the kid," Diaz said at a news conference with Las Vegas police Monday afternoon. "I hope from now on they're able to stay together."

Diaz said Cole deserves as much credit as he does.

"The good thing is, he was never shy to ask for help," Diaz said. "He knew he came to the right person."

Cannito didn't downplay Diaz's role in the police investigation.

"I hope Mr. Diaz realizes the hero that he is," Cannito said. "This is nothing to be minimized."

Tracy Bower, a spokeswoman with the Regional Transportation Commission, which runs the bus service, said Diaz's colleagues have shared their appreciation for what he's done.

"He did get a lot of positive feedback from his fellow drivers," Bower said. "They were really proud of the fact it was one of their own who was able to help in the case."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporters Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281 and Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.