SALT LAKE CITY -- Police have arrested a man they say kidnapped three children and tried to hold them for ransom because he thought they vandalized his car.

Salt Lake City police say 21-year-old Juan Lopez and his cousin, a 15-year-old juvenile who has not been identified, forced three children ages 11 and 12 into Lopez's car on Tuesday. Police say Lopez thought they had spray painted an obscenity on his new car.

Police Sgt. Robin Snyder says Lopez then called the mother of one of the children from an auto body shop and demanded $1,000 for their release so he could pay to fix the car.

The three children were unhurt and Lopez and his cousin were arrested. Lopez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of three counts of child kidnapping.

___