Watch CBS News

Sex Offender's Kidnap Attempt Stopped By Metro Commuters

LOS ANGELES (CBS)  — Metro commuters stopped a teenage girl from being kidnapped by a registered sex offender Thursday afternoon in South Los Angeles.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the attempted abduction occurred around 2 p.m. Thursday at the Avalon Green Line station. As many as 10 metro commuters stepped in to interrupt it before police arrived.

"We responded to a fight in progress," said Office Steve Whitmore. "What happened was 10 commuters came to this girl's aid ... and there was a fight. That is when we got there."

According to police, the victim fled, and her rescuers did not get her name or exact age. The suspect has been identified as 46-year-old James Burnett, who according to California's Registered Sex Offender list has previously been charged with rape by force.

"The suspect hobbled onto an arriving train, and as he was arriving at the Imperial passenger station, that is where we arrested him," Whitmore said. "Later we watched on closed-circuit video and saw the crime and attempted kidnap take place and saw the passengers come to the girl's aid."

Police said Friday that the victim came forward and is reportedly fine.

©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.