LAPD releases man arrested after alleged kidnapping in North Hills
The Los Angeles Police Department released a man they arrested after an alleged kidnapping in North Hills last week.
Officers said they released the suspect after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges against him. The DA's office said investigators did not formally present a case to prosecutors.
LAPD arrested the man last Friday and accused him of kidnapping a girl near the Sepulveda Boulevard and Parthenia Street intersection.
Officers said the girl and her mother willingly got into the man's car. The suspect offered the family food shortly before driving off.
"Moments later, the mother exited the vehicle, at which time the daughter stayed inside the vehicle, and the suspect drove away," Capt. Jonathon Larsen said.
Investigators said the girl was found safely.
Before releasing him, detectives were trying to determine if he was connected to a pair of kidnappings that happened on March 15.
On March 15, investigators said a man followed two girls, ages 11 and 16, for several blocks and repeatedly asked them if they needed a ride. The girls denied a ride from the suspect when he first approached them near Sepulveda Boulevard and Nordhoff Street. He approached them a second time from a block away, near Nordhoff Street and Columbus Avenue, according to the LAPD.
Detectives said two girls accepted the ride and told the suspect their destination. Once they got into the car, the man locked the doors, drove past the girls' destination and continued eastbound on Nordoff Street, according to LAPD.
Officers said he parked in the 8900 block of Lemona Avenue, made lewd requests to the girls and exposed himself.
The girls started to scream for help and tried to escape as the suspect started to drive away. They were able to jump out of the car but sustained minor injuries after falling onto the road.
LAPD released a sketch of the suspect, describing him as a man between 21-23 years old.
In the most recent kidnapping, officers described the suspect as a 40-year-old man.
