Fresno police are investigating a possible kidnapping attempt and another related incident after two females were accosted Monday morning in Central Fresno.
The first incident took place in the Tower District around 8 30 a.m., where a woman told officers the man approached her in the parking lot of Bank of America. He asked for her phone number and she told him “no”.
He then offered her $100 to get into a van in back of the Bank of America at Olive and Wishon Avenues. She told him to leave her alone and he then threatened to sock her in the face.
The woman saw a security guard at the bank and she approached him, telling him what happened. The man then got into a van (see above for Dodge van photo – not the actual van in incident) parked in the bank’s parking lot.
He drove off westbound on Olive Avenue from Wishon Avenue.
The second incident, a possible attempted kidnapping, took at 8:45 am. A man – who officers believe is the same – reportedly tried to pull a female into a van near Clark and Olive avenues.
The woman was walking to a medical appointment nearby when he walked up to her and asked for her phone number. She refused his advances, and he then grabbed her by the hips and pulled her.
She struck the man and he released her and went back to his van, parked 20-30 yards away. He left the scene heading westbound on Olive Avenue, and was last seen speeding north on Blackstone Avenue.
A citizen chased the van but was unable to obtain the license plate number. Officers canvassed both locations for the van with negative results. At this time there is no video evidence depicting the man involved or the van he was driving.
Anyone that recognizes the descriptions below is encouraged to call the Fresno Police Department at 621-7000.
SUSPECT: Height: 5-11, Weight: 230-250lbs, stocky build, dark complexion, wearing a grey beanie with a ball on top, a button down grey shirt, grey sweatpants.
VEHICLE: Dodge van, dark red or rust.
