Man Wanted In Attempted Abductions Near Downtown L.A.

LOS ANGELES, CA (CNS) - An unidentified man who scaled a chain-link fence in an attempt to snatch two children playing outside a central Los Angeles apartment complex on Aug. 10 tried to abduct a woman in the same area this
morning, police said.

Today's attempt occurred about 9:15 a.m. in the 2100 block of West Washington Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspect, in a white van with tinted windows, spoke to the victim as she walked on the south sidewalk, displayed a pornographic image on a cell phone and told her, "Get in the van, or you know what will happen," according to the LAPD.

The woman said she saw a blue steel handgun on the center console of the van and the suspect had his pants down, exposing himself. She left the location and called police, reporting that she last saw the suspect drive north on Oxford Avenue from Washington Boulevard, according to the LAPD.

The earlier attempt happened about 6:50 p.m. Aug. 10 as the 2- and 3-year-old victims were playing with about five other children in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 1700 block of South Westmoreland Boulevard, between Venice and Washington boulevards, police said.

The suspect was described as a Latino man about 30-40 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 170 pounds, with a pot belly, light complexion, black hair, light brown mustache, blue eyes and dental braces with blue rubber bands. He wore a brown wide-brimmed hat, light blue polo short with white stripes and
blue jeans.

Anyone with information or who recognizes the suspect was urged to call the LAPD's Olympic station at (213) 382-9460.