Update: 12 noon, Nov. 17: Police have released a sketch of a man they say tried to kidnap a 17-year-old girl the afternoon of Nov. 13 while she walked on Lark Avenue east of Winchester Boulevard, on the north side of the street from the
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 45 years of age, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8 inches tall, with a stocky build, clean shaven, with black slicked-back medium-length hair. He was wearing a red T-shirt with a large circular logo on the front and dirty blue jeans with paint splatters on them. The victim said the suspect had no discernible accent and she didn't notice scars, marks or tattoos.
The man's vehicle is described as a small four-door station wagon, possibly a mid-80s VW Jetta, or similar-looking vehicle. The vehicle is a faded dark brown color and had spots where the paint was flaking off. Those areas that were missing brown paint were covered with dark blue or black paint. The vehicle had tinted rear passenger windows and a floor-mounted transmission shifter.
According to police, the man approached the young woman shortly after 4 p.m. and offered her a ride. When she refused to get in his car, he stopped the vehicle on the north curb ahead of her, exited the vehicle and opened the passenger door. He then approached her, grabbed her arm and bent down as if trying to lift her.
She pulled from his grasp, punched him in the face and kneed him in the groin, according to police. The suspect then released his grip of the girl, returned to the vehicle and drove away westbound on Lark toward Winchester Boulevard.
Los Gatos Monte Sereno police detectives are actively investigating the incident and they ask anyone with information about the attempted kidnapping or know of a person or vehicle matching the suspect and car description provided, to contact Detective Kevin Elliott at 408-827-3211.
