UPDATE: Man grabs young soccer player at Bridgeport in attempt kidnapping

Share on facebook
Share
Share on twitter
Tweet
Share on email
Email

 

Local sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man in a black sedan suspected of trying to kidnap a girl playing soccer at Bridgeport Park late Wednesday afternoon.

The attempted kidnapping happened about 5 p.m. on the park on Newhall Ranch Road, Sgt. Pete Bringas told The Signal Thursday morning.

“This happened at Bridgeport Park during a soccer practice,” he said.

“The suspect approached the victim and tried to pull her into a vehicle and moved her several feet,” Bringas said.

“He never got her into the vehicle,” he added.

The suspect was driving a black sedan, most likely a Honda or Toyota, Bringas said.

Search efforts throughout the day turned up no suspects, according to a sheriff’s spokesman at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Parents of young soccer players received an email message from soccer practice organizers with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) United.

The letter read, in part:

“Last night, there was an incident at Bridgeport during practice. A team was on a run and one of the players experienced a cramp and fell behind. A man approached her and asked if she needed help to find her friends.

“She said no and he tried to grab her and drag her to his car. She was able to get away and ran to tell her coach what happened. The player was shaken up but thankfully, she is alright.

“The sheriffs were called and a report was taken. Evidently it is not the first time this has happened. There was a similar incident a few weeks ago near Heritage Park.

“As parents, we need to be aware of our surroundings and that of our children. We need to talk to our children about strangers and the dangers they can present. We also need to make sure they know what to do if this should ever happen to them. You just never know when something could happen.”

AYSO officials issued an additional advisory to parents as to what phone number to call.

“Of note, 911 is not the number to call in cases like this,” they wrote in the same email message to parents.

“911 calls are directed to the CHP. The local Sheriff’s department should be contacted at 661-255-1121 and insist that they come out to investigate.”

 

[email protected]

661-287-5527

on Twitter @jamesarthurholt

Related To This Story

Latest NEWS