Sketches released in kidnapping attempt (Sam Spital)

Commentary by Criminal Defense Attorney Sam Spital:

“The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department produced sketches of three suspects in an attempted kidnapping about 1:30 p.m. of an eighteen year old woman according to the UT News on January 1, 2013. It was revealed in the article that the teenager was pulled into the cab of the pick up truck by one man when she refused his orders to get inside. The article noted the bed of the truck was loaded with gardening equipment, and two of the male suspects were described as Latino while the third was either white or Latino.

The story did not include any more information relating to the 18 year old girl nor the location to where she was walking, except I believe the incident took place in an area of Encinitas (a city adjacent to San Diego) where the homes range from $750,000 to well above $1 million. Kudos go to the young girl who fought off the three suspects, biting one of them in his ear and punching the other two and then was able to get out of the truck and run for help. One can only speculate as to what might have happened to the teenager had she not resisted the suspects. This is certainly an example of how promptly using self-defense measures can protect one and prevent much greater harm from taking place.”

–Sam Spital