Man Arrested After Attempted Kidnapping Near North County Elementary School: Police

ESCONDIDO, CA — A man was arrested after trying to kidnap a child as they were walking to school in Escondido, authorities said.

The attempted kidnapping happened at 7:19 a.m. Tuesday when a man in a car pulled up next to a child and tried to pull them into the vehicle as they were walking to Pioneer Elementary School on Ash Street, according to the Escondido Police Department. The child, who was not injured, got away and ran to the school to report the incident.

The suspect vehicle was described as a dark green four-door sedan. Detectives found the vehicle at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday driving on Auto Parkway near Andreasen Drive, police said.

Police stopped the car and arrested Jose Cruz-Ruiz, a 27-year-old a resident of Escondido. He will be booked on suspicion of kidnapping at the Vista Detention Facility, according to police.

Detectives do not believe there are any other suspects. Anyone with information about the attempted kidnapping was asked to call the Escondido Police Department at 760-839-4722.