'Help Me' Sign Leads To Rescue Of Kidnapped 13-Year-Old In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — A 13-year-old kidnapping victim from Texas was rescued in Long Beach after she grabbed the attention of passersby with a "Help Me" sign, police announced Thursday.

According to the Long Beach Police Department, officers received a call about an "unknown trouble" in the 100 block of East 10th Street earlier this month on July 9. The reporting party told police they saw a young girl who was visibly emotional and distressed in a car in a parking lot holding up the sign and immediately called 911.

After receiving the report, police immediately responded to the area and arrested a male suspect, who was identified as Steven Robert Sabalan, a 61-year-old resident of Cleburne, Texas.

“I want to commend our community members for their vigilance and willingness to get involved by calling 9-1-1. This incident highlights the critical role community members play in keeping people safe,” said Chief of Police Wally Hebeish. “I would also like to acknowledge our officers for their swift response and actions which led to getting this victim to safety.”

Further investigation into the case revealed that the girl was at a bus stop in San Antonio, Texas on July 6 when Sabalan approached her, pointed a gun at her and demanded she get into his car.

According to Long Beach detectives and the Sexual Assault Response Team, investigators gathered sufficient evidence that the girl was sexually assaulted while Sabalan transported her across state lines to Long Beach.

Detectives said they also recovered a replica firearm, which resembled a semi-automatic pistol, inside the suspect's vehicle.

Long Beach authorities got in touch with the San Antonia Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services, who took custody of the girl.

Sabalan was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, lewd and lascivious acts with a child and being a fugitive from justice.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation took over as the lead agency in investigating the case, LBPD said. The investigation is ongoing.