Police Seek Public's Help to Find Would-Be Kidnapper

A man who allegedly accosted a 14-year-old girl in La Mesa -- trying to grab her off her bicycle -- was at large Wednesday and police sought the public's help in finding him.

The teen told police she was riding her bike in the 8600 block of Dallas Street when the man got out of a parked vehicle and tried to grab her; the incident occurred about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 8600 block of Dallas Street, police said.

La Mesa police Sgt. Bret Richards said the suspect lunged at the girl but missed her; she continued riding, with the man chasing her for a time before he gave up.

The man is mixed race -- black and white possibly -- about 25, with an almost stocky build; he stands about 5 feet 8, police said.

When he accosted the girl, he wore a red-and-white jacket and a black baseball cap with a logo on it; the vehicle was a newer model, medium-sized pickup truck with a white camper shell, Richards said in a written statement.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call La Mesa police
at 619 667-1400 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-TIPS.

 -- City News Service contributed to this report