Boy, Girl Escape Kidnapping Attempts in Hacienda Heights

Hacienda Heights - A 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl narrowly escaped from would-be kidnappers in two separate incidents in Hacienda Heights and the suspects were still at large, officials said today.

The incidents occurred about 10 minutes and two miles apart on Wednesday afternoon, said sheriff's Sgt. Hugo Macias of the Industry Station.

The first incident occurred about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 1400 block of Countrywood Avenue, Macias said.

"The victim reported she was walking home from school when she was approached by the suspect, who was driving a small dark green pickup truck," Macias said in a statement. "The vehicle license plate possessed the letter `P' in the sequence."

The man got out of the truck and approached the girl from behind, Macias said.

"The suspect was reaching out toward the victim as he approached her," Macias said. "The victim saw the suspect and ran away from him before he could grab her."

The girl ran toward her home and the man drove off. The man was described as Hispanic, in his late 30s, 6 feet tall, with a shaved head and a black mustache wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

About 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of Farmstead Avenue, about a mile and a half west of Countrywood Avenue, a 9-year-old boy was walking home from school when a man approached him, Macias said.

"The suspect stopped and asked him to give him a `high five,' (and) he complied," Macias said. "As they made contact, the suspect grabbed the victim's hand and bicep and proceeded to drag him toward his vehicle."

The boy freed himself and ran off, and the suspect drove away in a white van. He was described as white, in his early 30s, 6 feet 1 inch tall, with long black hair, brown eyes, and a goatee, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

Authorities searched the area, but no suspect was found. Anyone knowing more about the crimes was urged to call the sheriff's department at (626) 330- 3322.