Police Seek Attempted Kidnapper Of Young Soccer Player

SANTA CLARITA, CA — An investigation was underway Friday into a 12-year- old girl's report that she was grabbed by a man who had offered her a ride while she was running with a soccer team in Santa Clarita.

The girl was at soccer practice on Wednesday evening at Bridgeport Park in the 23500 block of Bridgeport Lane when the team went for a run in the adjoining neighborhood, according to Shirley Miller, public information officer at the Los Angeles County sheriff's Santa Clarita Valley Station.

The girl said she fell behind her teammates and a man approached and asked if he could give her a ride, Miller said.

"After the victim declined his offer, he grabbed her arm and moved her a few feet," Miller said. "The victim resisted the suspect and broke free of his grasp."

The man then fled to a black vehicle, possibly a Honda or Toyota, that was parked nearby and drove off, Miller said.

The suspect is described as white, 40-50 years old, about 6 feet tall with a medium build and brown hair.

Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to call the sheriff's Santa Clarita Valley Station at (661) 255-1121.

City News Service; Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department