Attempted Kidnapping Reported in Solana Beach

An investigation was under way today into an 8-year-old girl's claim that a tall, thin heavily tattooed man in his late 20s tried to kidnap her from a North County beach, authorities said.  

An attempted kidnapping at the beach near the 500 block of South Sierra Avenue in Solana Beach was reported around 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Clayton Lisk.

The man had a folding knife in his rear shorts pocket and fled on a skateboard northbound on South Sierra Avenue following the attempted kidnapping, Lisk said in a statement.

The girl told investigators her would-be kidnapper was white, in his late 20s, about 6 feet 1, with a thin build, short black hair and a medium complexion. His right arm is covered in tattoos and "KILL" is tattooed on high right-hand knuckles, Lisk said, adding that he wore ear lobe plug earrings that were each about the size of a dime.

He was last seen wearing a purple, pink and blue striped tank top, black cargo shorts and black Vans shoes, the sergeant said.

No other details were immediately released, including the circumstances leading up to the alleged kidnapping attempt.

No injuries were reported.

—City News Service