Santa Ana man held on suspicion of attempting to kidnap teen girl

A man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to kidnap a 15-year-old girl after he and accomplice attempted to snatch her as she walked to Valley High School in Santa Ana.

Moises Rendon, 28, Santa Ana, was caught by police shortly after the attempt to abduct the teenage girl about 8:24 am, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department. Police are searching for the getaway driver.

As the teenage girl walked past a small red compact car parked in the 1200 block of South Sullivan Street, a man she did not know but was later identified as Rendon suddenly jumped out of the passenger seat, Bertagna said.

“He was wearing gloves and had a rag in his hand,” Bertagna said. “The suspect ran toward the victim and attempted to grab her. The girl was able to escape and ran.”

The man then returned to the compact car, believed to a Toyota Corolla with a driver waiting inside, and they proceeded to flee.

Witnesses to the attempted kidnapping immediately reported the vehicle and suspect description to police.

Santa Ana police officers quickly learned the man involved may reside in the 1400 block of South Sullivan Street and went to the home, where they detained Rendon.

The victim, during a “field show-up,” made a positive identification of Rendon, authorities said.

Santa Ana police are continuing to search for the driver; the vehicle is described as a red Toyota Corolla with a spoiler on the rear trunk.

Rendon was being held on suspicion of attempted kidnapping at the Santa Ana Police Department Jail.

ALSO:

Judge orders dozens of L.A.’s electronic billboards turned off

Man serving life sentence for 1997 arson deaths ordered freed

Las Vegas pawn shop auctioning off ex-LAPD Officer Dorner’s gun

Twitter: @lacrimes| Google+

richard.winton@latimes.com