Ladera Ranch Child Annoyance Case "Unfounded": Police

LADERA RANCH, CA — Ladera Ranch parents can breathe a collective sigh of relief following the Orange County Sheriff’s Department's recent closure of the child annoyance suspect search.

"Investigators no longer looking to identify child annoyance suspect," OCSD Lt. Mark Stichter said in recent release.

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators have ceased looking to identify a suspect involved in the original child annoyance incident, reported Jan. 18 near Ladera Ranch Elementary School.

“After an extensive three-week investigation, Sheriff’s investigators determined that the incident did not happen," Stichter said.

On January 18th, OCSD was contacted by the child's mother at approximately 9:45 a.m. in regards to a suspicious person in the 29500 Block of Sienna Parkway.

In the original report, the child stated he was almost picked up and dragged away by a male wearing a black hoodie and black pants, with a thin build and tattoos on his hands.

OCSD investigators searched the area, and sought the public’s assistance in identifying the child annoyance suspect in the child annoyance event.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Hernandez at 949-206-6194 or the department commander at 714-647-7000. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-855-TIP-OCCS (1-855-847-6227).”

Amy Spurgeon Hoffman contributed to this report.

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