SANTA ANA : Kidnaping Suspect Sought by Police
Police were searching for a 32-year-old man who allegedly kidnaped his son at gunpoint during a domestic dispute Thursday morning, then returned the boy unharmed three hours later, authorities said.
At 8:15 a.m., Elias Garcia Vidal forced his way into the apartment of 37-year-old Maria Melendez in the 1000 block of West Highland Street, police said. Melendez, who had obtained a restraining order from a judge against Vidal, was in the apartment with their two children, Sgt. Dick Faust said.
Vidal “brandished a handgun and Melendez and her daughter ran for safety,” Faust said. “Vidal then took his 4-year-old son from the residence.”
Fearing Vidal had fled to Mexico, police searched for him and the boy, who has the same name as his father.
Police believe the father returned to the area about 11:15 a.m. in a different car than the white 1983 Buick he was originally seen driving. He managed to drop the child off near Melendez’s apartment complex without being noticed, Faust said.
The child was reunited with his mother, who declined to talk about the incident.
“At least there was a happy ending,” Faust said.
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