Girl, 10 safe after attempted kidnapping

Jose Paul Corona

A 10-year-old Huntington Beach girl is safe at home, but shaken after

two men allegedly tried to force her into their car on Monday night.

Huntington Beach residents Gabriel Mendoza, 19, who is also known as

Juan Perez and Frank Michael Conley also 19 have been arrested on

suspicion of attempted kidnapping, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Ron

Burgess.

The girl was walking home from a friend’s house at about 7:15 p.m.

Monday when she noticed that a car appeared to be following her.

When she spotted the car she began to walk faster, Burgess said.

As the girl approached the intersection of Alhambra Avenue and Silver

Lane the car pulled up next to her and allegedly Mendoza got out of the

passenger seat and tried to force her into the car.

Police said the girl struggled with Mendoza and managed to break free

and run away. Upon arriving home the girl told her mother what happened.

The police were called and they were given a description of the men.

About 10 minutes after the call was made a patrol officer spotted the

suspect’s vehicle near Murdy Park, which was about one mile southwest of

the incident. Both suspects were arrested at that time, Burgess said.

The girl received some bruising, but other than that she was not

physically harmed, he added.