Clovis Attempted Kidnapping | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Fresno, CA The victim's mother said her 11-year-old daughter has a bruise on her arm from where the man tried to pull her into his car. Police said the two girls with her started screaming and helped her get away.

It's the path the fifth and sixth grade girls take to school every day. Only Monday, police said they were met by a stranger. "A man in kind of a beat up vehicle drove right by slowed down and offered them candy not once but several times," said Janet Stoll-Lee with the Clovis Police Department.

The victim's mother said the girls started walking backwards away from the man when he grabbed the 11-year-old and tried to pull her into his car. Police said he left after the girls started screaming, swinging and making a scene.

"When I heard about it I couldn't even talk. I called 9-1-1. I couldn't even breathe. I couldn't talk, I couldn't breathe. My heart was beating 100 miles an hour." The victim's mother said the girls were running late to school Monday when they were approached at Minnewawa and National.

She said what made the incident more frightening is her discovery of the number of sex offenders living nearby. "I was not aware that we live. We are surrounded with them. And I know that it's like this in a lot of cities but I just can't believe it's in our neighborhood. Not just one, not just two but there's more than a hundred. Here in this neighborhood maybe 50."

Clovis Police said the girls did the right thing by not only putting up a fight, but also walking in a group.

The victim's mother said even if the suspect is caught, she's taking more precautions. "I'm taking them to school and picking them up. They are not leaving my sight. They are not going to the neighbors they are not going to their friends house, not without me."

This is a composite sketch of the suspect. Clovis Police said the man is described as Hispanic 5' 9", 160-170 pounds, 40-years or older with a thin build and long grayish hair kept in a ponytail. He has a goatee and his face had some deep wrinkles. He was driving a large red S.U.V. similar to a Ford Expedition with a lot of dents.

Clovis Police say they will be very visible around the campus before and after school for the next few days, hoping to catch the suspect.