A meeting will be held Thursday at an elementary school in Solana Beach where a 7-year-old girl was nearly kidnapped this week when a stranger tried to wrap tape around her head and carry her off.
Parents and school officials plan to gather at 9 a.m. at Skyline Elementary School on Lomas Santa Fe Drive to discuss the frightening incident, get the latest details on the investigation and talk about ways to teach their children how to avoid a similar situation.
According to the girl’s father, the would-be kidnapper brazenly walked onto the elementary school campus Monday about 15 minutes after the dismissal bell rang. The girl was walking to her after-school program when the stranger confronted her behind the school.
The father said the man was carrying a roll of duct tape.
He tried to wrap the tape around the child’s head multiple times and, according to the father, used the line “if you want to see your mommy again” to lure her.
Deputies said the girl screamed and got away. The man then ran off.
"She did the right thing," said sheriff's Capt. Theresa Adams-Hydar. "She screamed and made herself not a victim; she did a great job."
Staff members and some parents saw the encounter and gave detectives a description of the man. He’s described as having light brown hair and a tan skin tone. He’s possible in his 40s with a medium build, standing at approximately 6 feet tall.
"He was wearing, it looked like, a red, white and blue athletic, maybe baseball jersey, buttoned down; a green baseball cap; off-white baseball pants with athletic shoes; and was holding a small duffle bag," said Adams-Hydar.
The man was driving a silver Ford Flex-type car with chrome trim on the back and a black top.
A sketch of the suspect was released by officials on Tuesday. No arrests have been made in the case and anyone with information is urged to call the sheriff's department at (858) 565-5200.
Meanwhile, volunteers are trying to spread the word around the community with flyers that were handed out Wednesday at businesses on Highway 101.
The Solana Beach School District plans to give students training on what to do when a stranger approaches them. In part, students are being taught to use their voices to yell for help and attract attention and to run away.
School officials also urge parents not too drop off students too early at school before supervision is on campus and to be prompt about picking up children after school is dismissed.
