City Council to Honor Rescuers of Kidnapped Malibu Teenager

The quick thinking of not just one, but two Malibu men led to the arrest of a transient accused of kidnapping a teenager on Pacific Coast Highway.

Michael Miller, 65, and Joseph Evans, 51, both of Malibu, as well as Los Angeles County sheriff's Det. Jill Greenwood, who is based out of the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff's Station, will be honored on July 23 by the Malibu City Council at its regular meeting.

The actions of all three resulted in the arrest of 28-year-old Alexis Fantauzzi, who is accused of kidnapping a 17-year-old girl on June 12 as she was waiting in her car at the signal at Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way in Malibu.

Malibu Mayor Pro Tem Lou La Monte said both men do not see themselves as heroes. 

"I spoke with Michael Miller and Joseph Evans about the roles they played in stopping the kidnapping of a young member of our community. What they did prevented this from becoming more of a tragedy than it was. Both of them don't think they are heroes, as most true heroes don't," La Monte said. "I told them that recognition from the city would help encourage others to step up like they did and on that basis they agreed to accept a commendation."

The details of Miller's role in the rescue of a 17-year-old Malibu girl came out a week after she was kidnapped on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way in Malibu on June 12.

Miller said he was at the gas station on Heathercliff Road when he noticed the girl, who was crying in the passenger seat, pleading for help through the window of the car.

"She's pleading 'Please, help me. Help me. Help me, please,'" Miller recounted. Miller said he confronted the kidnapper and called 911 when the man took off with the girl.

Evans, who was also pumping gas, witnessed the exchanged and tried to follow them in his car. He eventually spotted the vehicle on Kanan Dume Road, which was on his way to work.

"I turned up Kanan and she was up in the car parked on the side of the road. I drove past him and it looked like he was making a u-turn," said Evans, who had called 911 to report what he had seen.

The dispatcher asked him to stay on the line.

"It looked like he was having a cigarette. They said the officers were on the way," Evans recalled.

Evans said he drove up and down Kanan Dume Road until the officers arrived.

"They had the suspect on the ground," Evans said. He said he took off to go to work and later called the gas station to make sure the girl was OK.

"I felt like I should get involved. I knew the police were looking for this person. I’d seen him and I saw the girl when they pulled out of the station. She looked like she was in a lot of trouble," Evans said.

Greenwood, who was the deputy who placed the handcuffs on Fantauzzi at the scene, will also be honored for her quick action in arresting the suspect.

La Monte said Greenwood deserves to be honored for responding so quickly in a situation "where time was so critical."

"I am incredibly proud and deeply appreciative of what these heroes have done for all of us," La Monte said.