Sketch released of Union City attempted kidnapping suspect

UNION CITY — Police released a composite sketch and a more detailed description of a man being sought for trying to abduct an 11-year-old girl on her way to school last week.

They are the result of additional follow-up interviews with the girl, who also provided further details about a vehicle associated with the suspect, police said.

The girl described the suspect as a male, approximately 6 feet tall, heavyset, with dark tan skin and dark brown, medium-length hair extending to his ears, visible beneath a hooded sweatshirt. He also had a mask covering some of his face. The suspect was noted to have vertical scars or tattoos on both index fingers, running from the third to second knuckle, police said.

During the encounter, the suspect spoke incoherently and may have been using another language, the victim told police.

He was associated with a dark-colored sedan without tinted windows, rosary beads hanging from the rearview mirror, and possible rear-end damage. The victim also observed clothing and miscellaneous items visible through the rear window, police said.

The attempted kidnapping happened about 8:15 a.m. Oct. 22 in the area of Dyer Street and Meteor Drive as the girl was riding a scooter to Itilong-Vera Cruz Middle School.

The girl told police that while riding the scooter she was approached by the suspect, who grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt and attempted to pull her. She was able to get away as the suspect fled and contacted her father who drove her to school, police said. She informed school staff, who contacted police.

Anyone who may have witnessed what happened or has information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Dominic Ayala at 510-675-5259 or via email at Domenica@unioncity.org.

Police have said the attempted kidnapping is not related to an attempted home invasion robbery by four suspects — who are still being sought — that happened Oct. 24 on Tidewater Drive. That attempt was foiled by an 8-year-old girl who lives at the home and was outside when she saw the suspects running towards the home and was able to alert her parents, who called police.