A group of high school students on their way to school reported that a hooded man driving a black SUV attempted to abduct a child Tuesday morning in Lakeside, according to the Lakeside Union School District.
Shortly after 8 a.m., a car in the 11900 block of Woodside Avenue, located a block from Lakeside Middle School, stopped right next to a group of three students who were walking. Someone in the back seat opened the door and tried to grab one of them, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Lakeside Substation.
The three students fled in the black SUV, possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe with silver wheels and a black and yellow license plate, according to SDSO. The SUV was westbound on Woodside Avenue toward Riverford Road, according to Lakeside Sheriff’s Substation Lt. Shawn Wray.
The suspect in the back seat is described as a male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 160 to 170 pounds and wearing black clothing. No description of the driver was given, Lt. Wray said.
The students were not injured and reported the incident as soon as they arrived at Lakeside Middle School. The suspects did not get out of the car, touch or say anything to the students, Lt. Wray said.
The incident is isolated, but officers will be conducting additional patrols in and around the high school.
In a letter to parents, Lakeside Union School District Superintendent Rhonda Taylor asked parents to review child safety procedures if they are approached by strangers.
“As always, the best defense is to run from strangers to another adult while making a lot of noise. It will be effective if you also review these procedures with your child,” the superintendent wrote.
SDSO is asking for the public’s help in identifying and finding the man suspected of trying to take the child. Anyone with information or surveillance video about the incident is asked to call the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department at 858-565-5200. You can also call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.
