On Thursday, July 15, 2021, at approximately 12:50 PM, Hawthorne police officers responded on a report of a possible kidnapping which had just occurred near the 12700 block of Oxford Avenue, in the City of Hawthorne. The two female victims, 13 and 14 years old, were walking when a male adult, not known either victim, offered to go explore the area and tried to lure them into a car he said was parked nearby. Both victims ran from the male to a nearby convenience store.
After a few minutes, both victims began walking home, and noticed the same male now involved in a verbal altercation with another passerby. The male then turned his attention back on the two victims, and began chasing after them on foot. One of the victims reported that the male was able to grab her around the waist from behind, but that she was able to break free. Both victims ran into the courtyard of a nearby apartment complex, still followed by the male. Alerted by the commotion, a resident of the apartment complex came out and confronted the male, who then left the property. The incident was then reported to police.
Responding officers were able to locate and detain the male nearby, based on a physical description of him provided to dispatch. He was arrested for suspicion of attempted kidnapping, and remains in custody at the Hawthorne Police Department Jail. Neither victim was hurt during this incident. The male arrestee has been identified as:
Steven Noriega, a 26 year old resident of the City of Los Angeles.
If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the Hawthorne Police Department.