Authorities Seek Man Who Tried To Lure Teen Into Van In Santee

SANTEE, CA — Authorities are searching for a man who tried to lure a teenage boy into a van in Santee.

The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, while the 16-year-old was riding his bicycle home from Mast Park in the 9100 block of Carlton Hills Boulevard, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The boy told deputies he first noticed the van following him as he passed the parking lot of a bank in the 200 block of Town Center Parkway.

"The driver kept motioning for the boy to come to him," sheriff's Sgt. Michael Gonzales said. "He ignored the driver and kept riding his bicycle south on Cuyamaca Street, but the van kept following him. As the boy continued east on Town Center Parkway, he stopped near the Santee Town Center Trolley Station. The driver stopped in front of the victim and waved his hand for the boy to get into the van."

The boy rode home and told his parents, who called the Sheriff's Santee Station.

The suspect was described as a Middle Eastern man in his 40s with an average build, black hair, mustache and short buzz-cut hair style. The van he was driving was described as a late 1990s Ford Econoline with tinted windows and beige curtains in the back.

Anyone with information about the driver was asked to call the sheriff's non-emergency line at 858-565-5200 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.