Attempted Kidnap Suspect Returns to San Ysidro High: Principal, Parents

The suspect first appeared in the area on Feb. 11 and returned last week, according to parents

The man who tried to force a female San Ysidro High student into his blue van on Feb. 11 returned to the school last week and walked onto the campus, pretending to be a school security officer, according to the principal and several parents. San Diego Police Department issued a statement yesterday saying it appears the two incidents are unrelated.

Principal Hector Espinoza said last week a man matching the same description as the prior incident walked onto campus at about 7 a.m. He told a young female student that he was with campus security, according to Espinoza. The girl immediately recognized the man was not part of the school community and ran to the office to report the incident, Espinoza said.

"It's very serious because when they are getting that bold ... to come onto campus, that means they have no regard for getting caught or anything. So, you just never know what they are capable of doing," Espinoza said.

San Diego Police Department cannot confirm that the Feb. 11 incident is connected to incident last week, but they certainly are not ruling it out, a spokesman said Thursday.

Parents are so concerned about the incident that a group of about 10 parents are walking the perimeter of the campus several times a day.

"If something happens, they could drive very easily away," said parent Velia Rico. "They could take our kids to the other side (of the border.)" 

The school, located in Otay Mesa, is situated in an area surrounded by open space on each side for several hundred yards with the Mexico border crossing just four miles away.

Rico asked for parents help in walking the area and keeping a look-out.

The man in the Feb. 11 incident was described by police as driving a blue van with Baja California plates. Espinoza said the victim last week also gave the school the same description of the man who walked onto campus.

SDPD and Border Patrol are heavily patroling the area also.

A press release from the police department is expected later today. Anyone with info is asked to call the Southern Division of the San Diego Police Department at (619) 424-0400 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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