SDPD arrests motorist in connection with kidnapping incident at Mission Valley Mall – NBC 7 San Diego

A car driven by a man suspected of attempting to kidnap a teenage girl at the Mission Valley Mall on Tuesday was spotted by police on State Route 94 between Interstates 15 and 805 on Thursday and the driver was taken into custody.

Early Thursday afternoon, a second attempted kidnapping was reported at the mall within three days, San Diego police said Thursday. Investigators have not yet confirmed

At a press conference held around 3:15 p.m. to inform the public about the first case, SDPD Lieutenant Daniel Meyer made the dramatic revelation.

NBC 7’s Omari Fleming reports from Mission Valley, where police say the suspect attempted to kidnap the child while the mother was nearby.

In the second incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. Thursday, a girl around 5 years old was picked up by the suspect, who attempted to carry the child away and place her in a vehicle, Meyer said, adding that he does not yet know the location of the second attempt. The vehicle in Thursday’s incident was only reported as black, which of course matches the vehicle used in Tuesday’s incident.

“Just before I came to this press conference, I was made aware of another incident,” Meyer said, later adding that “the suspect in this similar incident is likely the same suspect as in the first case.”

In Tuesday’s incident, a 6-year-old girl was pushing a stroller with her 8-month-old brother in it and walking behind her mother outside Buffalo Wild Wings when a man approached her from behind, grabbed her by the shoulders, lifted her up and walked a few steps, according to San Diego police.

Police later described the suspect as a man in his 30s to 40s, approximately 5’10” tall and 140 pounds, with shoulder-length, slicked-back black hair. He was wearing a mint green shirt and gray pants, according to camera footage and witness statements obtained by SDPD. Meyer said the suspect fled the mall Tuesday in a black 2013 Chevy Volt, license plate 7VBS762, according to SDPD.

The lieutenant said the second incident is still under investigation, but the description of the suspect is the same, except that he was wearing an orange and white shirt and tan shorts on Thursday.

There are many surveillance cameras in the mall, Meyer said, and detectives are combing through the footage to find photos and videos of a suspect and hope to release them to the public on Thursday.

Meyer said the children were obviously traumatized.

“As a district, we provide a range of resources to victims of crime,” Meyer said.

On Tuesday, police said, the girl screamed, prompting her mother to turn around and confront the suspect, who said he thought the girl was someone else before walking away and driving away, police said. The mother and her daughter then went to the security desk at the nearby Target store, where the mother called 911, SDPD Lt. Bryan Brecht said.

San Diego police are asking for the public’s help in locating the man and are asking anyone with information about the case to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information arrives.