San Diego Kidnapping Attempt Fails After Abductor's Truck Won't Start, Asks Victim's Family For Jump: Police

SAN DIEGO, CA – A man suspected of trying to kidnap a 6-year-old boy following a Fourth of July party in San Diego almost got away until his truck wouldn't start and he asked the child’s relatives to help him jump-start his vehicle, officials said Wednesday.

Michael Todd Mahurin, 52, approached the boy around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday as the child was leaving a family gathering in the 3600 block of Ontario Avenue in San Diego's Fox Canyon neighborhood, according to San Diego police. The boy was waiting for his parents by their vehicle when the suspect pulled up in a truck, got out and grabbed the child from behind, police said.

"The suspect placed the victim in the front seat of his truck (and) told him to (lie) down and not say anything," San Diego police Officer John Buttle said.

When the truck did not start, Mahurin asked the child's unsuspecting family members to help jump-start the vehicle, Buttle said. They agreed and were going to assist him when the boy's parents came out looking for their son.

"One of the family members came to the truck to ask the suspect to help look for the victim and saw the victim in the front seat," Buttle said.

Members of the family then called the police and held the suspect until officers arrived and arrested him.

Mahurin was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, illegal possession of a controlled substance and driving without a valid license.

He was being held on $105,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Friday afternoon.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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