Updated: Youth Instructor Arrested in Kidnapping

The Pasadena Police Department has arrested a local youth boot camp instructor known to kids as "Sarge" after he allegedly handcuffed a truant 14-year-old and tried to demand money for his services from the boy's parents.

Kelvin McFarland, 41, of Monrovia, was arrested on May 27 on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, child abuse, extortion and unlawful use of a badge in the case.

According to the Pasadena Police Department, McFarland took the youth to his parent's home after handcuffing him and demanded money for transporting him.  He also tried to get the parents to enroll the kid in his after school program.

McFarland runs the Family 1st Growth Camp, according to the police, which they described as  a "boot camp" style program. The department's press release lists the program as serving both Altadena and Pasadena, and several online directories list it as an Altadena business.

McFarland is being held in lieu of $285,000 in bail and has a June 13 preliminary hearing scheduled, according to a department press release.

Updated 11:45 p.m: Lt. Phlunte Riddle of the Pasadena Police Department said that the person who filed the complaint about McFarland told detectives that he had successfully extorted money before releasing the child to his parents.

She noted that the 14-year-old victim did not suffer any injuries in the case.

Riddle said she is aware of at least two other instructors who work with local youth who go by the nickname "Sarge," but said she was not familiar with McFarland before his arrest.