Bystanders Seize Assault Suspect

Four people, including a woman of 62, thwarted a kidnaping in a Burbank parking lot and held the suspect until police arrived, authorities said Thursday.

Lt. Art Moody of the Burbank police said the incident, in which a 23-year-old Burbank woman was assaulted, occurred in an Alpha Beta supermarket parking lot in the 3800 block of W. Verdugo Avenue about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.

“She was coming out of the market, and she just sensed that someone was behind her,” Moody said. He said the young woman quickly turned around and saw a man, who tried to pull a stocking mask over her head.

The young woman shouted and struggled, and the two fell to the ground. Attracted by the shouts, a man and woman tried to break up what at first appeared to be a fight, Moody said.

The would-be abductor stood up, told the others “to mind their own business” and got in a nearby car. But, before he could get away, two other passers-by, alerted by shouts from the first two, yanked the car door open and pulled the man out, Moody said. He was held there until police arrived.

“If it hadn’t been for some good quick action by these citizens, he would have gotten away,” Moody said.

The suspect, identified as Michael Van Tifflin, 44, of North Hollywood, was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnaping and was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the Burbank Jail, police said.

The victim, whose identity was not released, did not know Van Tifflin, Moody said.

Police found in Van Tifflin’s car a roll of tape and some rope, the lieutenant said.

Police said an investigation of the incident was continuing and declined to release the names of the four people who came to the victim’s aid. He said the four would receive commendations from the Police Department.