South Bay Man Thwarted Trying To Kidnap Girl, 11, In Custody: Police

WILMINGTON, CA — Authorities arrested a South Bay man suspected of groping a child on the street and trying to kidnap her before bystanders intervened, police announced Thursday.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, 30-year-old Jose Jaime of Hawthorne is the man seen on security footage at the scene of the kidnapping attempt Monday in Wilmington.

The attack occurred around 3:15 p.m. Monday as an 11-year-old girl was walking near M Street and Gulf Avenue, according to the LAPD. A man approached her from behind, fondled her breasts and attempted to remove her from the area before residents in the area intervened to save the child, according to police.

The suspect fled the area in a gray Nissan Kicks with a spare wheel mounted on the passenger side.

On Wednesday, detectives executed a search warrant at Jaime's home in Hawthorne and arrested him on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping. As of Thursday, he remained in custody, held on $1 million bail.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call LAPD Harbor Area detectives at 310-726-7900.