JAMUL, Calif. (KGTV) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man who tried to lure a 12-year-old girl into his car Wednesday morning.
The girl’s mother, Melissa Eastman, says her daughter was walking home to Oak Grove Middle School. She usually walks with her two siblings, but they were running behind, so she decided to walk alone.
The man first approached her at Olive Vista Drive and Avenida de Oro, just blocks from the school.
“He was driving as slowly as she was walking, just trailing right beside her,” Eastman said. He then told her to get in his car.
Her daughter ran for about four blocks and slowed down thinking she had lost him. But he pulled up behind her again.
“The second time he got more aggressive with his tone to get in the car, and she ran and bolted to school,” Eastman said.
She said when she got there, he even drove into the school parking lot before giving up. The girl ran and told the principal.
"She forgot her cellphone so she couldn’t call 911," Eastman said. "That’s what she would have done otherwise."
Deputies responded and searched the area around the school, but there was no sign of the man or car.
Eastman's daughter gave deputies a vague description of the man and car. She said he was Hispanic, about 35-45 years old with a medium build and wearing a hat. He was driving a white sedan.
“That’s all they got out of her because she’s like ‘I’m sorry I ran,’ and I said, ‘that’s fine, you got away,’” Eastman said. “I mean I’m proud of her because she ran and thanked God she didn’t get into that car. This could be a whole different day. She could be gone.”
“Goes to show it can happen anywhere,” she added. “It's definitely scary, and I want all the moms to know to talk to all their kids.”
