Police: Attempted Kidnapping Of 11-Year-Old Palos Verdes Estates Boy Was 'Unfounded'
PALOS VERDES ESTATES (CBSLA.com) Authorities in Palos Verdes Estates say that a boy's account of two men trying to kidnap him on his way home from school last month was "unfounded."
On Thursday, May 28, around 3:30 p.m., Palos Verdes Estates Police investigated a reported attempted kidnapping in the area of Coronel Plaza and Via Margarita.
The boy said he was walking home from school when a man driving a brown van stopped him and asked for directions. He said a second male suspect got out of the passenger side of the van and attempted to kidnap him.
The department made an immediate decision to alert the public due to the critical nature of the allegations.
Detectives on Friday said they interviewed the victim multiple times, and each time the victim consistently reported the same details in chronological order leading investigators to view his account as credible.
A police sketch artist produced a bulletin, which was widely distributed. Police said they received nearly 300 tips regarding the possible suspect and vehicle sightings.
However, after what they called a thorough and thoughtful investigation, police have concluded "there was no attempted kidnapping."
