2 Escondido Men Arrested In Encinitas Kidnapping Attempt

ENCINITAS, CA – Two men suspected in the attempted kidnapping of a teenage girl in Encinitas have been arrested, authorities said Friday. The 15-year-old girl fought off a man, with a second man waiting inside a nearby truck, during an attempted abduction Wednesday.

After receiving a tip from the public, officials located a pickup truck just before 11 a.m. Friday that matched the vehicle description released by police following the kidnapping attempt, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Following a brief pursuit, deputies pulled over, detained and arrested the driver, 27-year-old Christopher White, who was depicted in a sketch released by police.

Deputies later arrested 28-year-old Jeremiah Owens around 6:40 p.m. at his home in Escondido.

Both men, who are from Escondido, were booked into Vista Jail. They are facing charges of kidnapping with the intent to commit rape, false imprisonment, assault with the intent to commit rape and conspiracy.

"The response from the North Coastal Sheriff's Station, as well as help from the media in getting the information out and the public calling in tips, led to a quick arrest in this case," Sheriff Bill Gore said in a statement.

The attempted kidnapping happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of Neptune Avenue, according to officials. The teen told deputies she was waxing her surfboard in the driveway of her home when a man came up from behind her, pinned her to the ground and tried to drag her toward a pickup truck parked along Grandview Street, where another man was waiting inside.

The girl fought off her attacker and ran inside her home, officials said. She was not injured in the struggle.

The two men drove off in a blue older model pickup truck.

The victim described the suspect who grabbed her as white, between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a skinny build. He was wearing board shorts. The second suspect was described as white, between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 11 inches tall with a medium build. He has light brown hair and a long brown beard.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Tips may be submitted anonymously, and callers may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to a felony arrest.

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Teen Escapes Attempted Kidnappers In Encinitas

Image via Shutterstock

Sketch courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff's Department