A man suspected of trying to kidnap a 9-year-old girl just a few blocks from her school is in custody.
Leremia Tuiolemotu, 37, a registered sex offender, was arrested Tuesday at his Fairmont Park home.
The attempted kidnapping happened on June 15, while the girl was walking down Latimer Street in Valencia Park. The girl told police that a man grabbed her and told her to get inside his van. She was inside the van for a brief time but then was able to break free and run away, police said.
Detectives say they identified the suspect using DNA.
He's also suspected of exposing himself to a 17-year-old girl in Fairmont Village on June 9. In this case, the teenager was walking in the 4600 block of Wightman when she saw a man in a white van who exposed himself to her. She left and called police.
Tuiolemotu’s previous offenses include indecent exposure and annoying ot molesting a child under 18.
Anyone who may have been a victim of Tuiolemotu or may have information about these cases is asked to call SDPD Southeastern Division at (619) 527-3500.
