In police terms, a reported kidnapping attempt has been “downgraded” to a less serioius crime.
Los Alamitos Police officers believe there was some sort of physical contact between a grown man and an 11-year-old bike rider on Friday, March 25.
However, they have not found evidence that meets the legal standards for an abduction charge.
All the same, the adult in question is “a person of interest,” which simply means the police want to talk to him. He is not currently a suspect in any crime.
Capt. Bruce McAlpine said police are certain there was no attempt to kidnap or harm the child.
According to the initial police report, a man tried to pull an 11-year-old boy off his bicycle as the child peddled down the 4000 block of Green Avenue in Los Alamitos on at about 5 p.m., Friday, March 25.
The man continued walking, apparently not making any haste as he left the scene, according to McAlpine.
He said the circumstances did not fit the profile of what one would expect in an attempted child abduction.
Los Alamitos Police detectives conducted detailed interviews with the alleged victim, re-surveyed the area where the incident reportedly took place and worked with a composite sketch artist to help identify the man.
Through those efforts, detectives acknowledge there was some type of physical contact between the 11-year-old boy who reported the incident and an adult male. however, the encounter, as reported, does not meet the legal criteria or contain the criminal elements necessary for the case to be categorized as an attempted kidnapping.
“We even did a re-enactment with the child,” said McAlpine.
Based on the re-enactment and multiple interviews with the boy, police have definitely ruled out an attempted kidnapping.
Police do not know if the man and the boy had an accident, if both parties were simply not paying attention or if the man was trying to take the boy’s bike.
McAlpine said it was entirely possible that the boy misinterpreted the intentions of the adult.
According to a press release issued Monday, April 11, the Los Alamitos Police Department continues to explore other explanations for the incident and witnesses, if any, are still encouraged to come forward. The subject portrayed in the composite sketch remains unidentified and has been classified as a person of interest. Investigators remain hopeful they will be able to determine his identity.
On March 25, the 11-year old boy told police officers he was riding his bicycle west on the south sidewalk when a male white adult, walking in the opposite direction, tried to grab him and remove him from his bike. The subject was described as being approximately 5 feet 10 inches, 30-40 years old, weighing 150 pounds. He was wearing dark colored jeans, black work boots, and a blue windbreaker.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts or identity of the subject portrayed in the sketch or has information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Detective Brandt at (562) 431-2255, extension 406.
