SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A scruffy-looking man who allegedly tried to kidnap a 15-year-old girl off a Grant Hill street Thursday morning was arrested several hours later at a downtown homeless shelter, authorities reported.
The teen was walking in the 2200 block of J Street about 7:30 a.m. when a thin stranger with an unkempt beard started following her, according to San Diego police.
As the girl was crossing the street near Kimbrough Elementary School, the man, who had a knit cap on his head and appeared to be about 30, grabbed her arm and told her to come with him, SDPD Lt. Sharon Smyth said.
As the girl struggled to break free, a worker at a nearby job site noticed what was happening and ran to her aid, Smyth said.
When the good Samaritan confronted him, the would-be abductor ran off. The worker then escorted the girl, who was unhurt, to the nearby school, where she reported the assault to police.
About 11:30 a.m., patrol officers found the suspect at St. Vincent de Paul Village at 15th Street and Imperial Avenue in the East Village, where he was waiting in a lunch line, the lieutenant said. He was taken into custody and brought to SDPD Central Division headquarters for questioning.
Because the man may be charged in connection with other crimes, police did not immediately disclose his name.
"The suspect's identity is not being released at this time because he may be linked to other incidents under investigation," SDPD public-affairs Lt.
Andra Brown said. "Releasing his identity and photograph could jeopardize those investigations."
