Police still investigating attempted kidnapping

CALEXICO — Police are still investigating the kidnapping attempt of a 6-year-old girl who was playing outside her home here recently.

Around 9:40 p.m. on Oct. 18, the child was playing in the front yard of her home on Vega Street.

According to a police report, the suspect was wearing a black cap, blue T-shirt and gray pants and fled in a four-door Toyota Camry, believed to be a model from the 1980s.

The incident, published on social media in recent days, has caused commotion and concern among residents, especially those with young children at home.

Authorities are still investigating the incident, but have not resulted in an arrest.

“The information we have is very little,” said Police Chief Reynaldo Gómez.

Authorities have questioned the neighbors on the subject and have reviewed the videos of the surveillance cameras that captured the attempted abduction.

Gómez said that in the past, there had been no similar cases of attempted child abduction in the city.

Gómez explained that because of the poor quality from the video surveillance, it’s difficult to get a proper image of the suspect.

Gómez asked the population to keep a close watch on their children to prevent any further attempts.

The site of the attempted kidnapping is a quiet neighborhood.

A few steps from the victim’s home is the New Life Church and shortly after the Hems Brothers funeral home.

For years, neighbors have enjoyed great tranquility, despite being located near Highway 111. The access on that street to Rockwood Avenue a few years ago has attracted more traffic.

However, one of the residents told Adelante Valle that in April 2016, one of their cars was stolen from the front of their home. The vehicle was never recovered.

Then again in October 2016, the same resident had another vehicle stolen, but was recovered in Mexicali.

“It was when they did not have patrols,” he said. “Before, they passed here every now and then.”