Crime & Safety

Police: Tipsters Say Potential Kidnapper, Van Seen 'From Here To West Virginia'

Gaithersburg police still hope to identify a suspect in the April 22 attempted kidnapping in the Washingtonian Woods neighborhood.

Police have received a number of tips regarding a possible suspect in an attempted Gaithersburg kidnapping, a Gaithersburg police spokesman said.

Gaithersburg police released a composite sketch of a man who attempted to kidnap a 14-year-old boy while the boy was running on Midsummer Drive in the Washingtonian Woods neighborhood the evening of April 22.

Police are no closer to identifying the suspect, but they are pleased with the amount of tips that are coming in because it means people are paying attention, Gaithersburg police Officer Dan Lane said.

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"We got a number of calls saying that [people] have seen that van, seen an individual matching that description, all the way from here to West Virigina," Lane said.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, with a medium complexion and muscular build, short black hair, between 6 feet and 6 feet 1 inch, and weighing 190 to 210 pounds. He has a goatee, brown eyes, a round face and sideburns that go to the middle of his ears.

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Police say the suspect's vehicle, a van, is described as a square style, similar to a delivery or painter van. It is possibly a Ford or Chevy model, white in color, with red trim along the top of the passenger side and rear.

The license plate is located to the right of the rear bumper and the vehicle has round brake lights and square blinkers, police said. The van has a passenger side sliding door and the wheels are solid black with no hubcaps. The front passenger side window is extremely tinted.

"We're following all leads and no possibility has been struck out," Lane said. "It could be a construction worker, painter, landscaper, someone from the community. We're still looking at all possibilities."

Police have heard concerns from other communities about the safety of their children when they are out and about, Lane said. Gaithersburg officers have increased patrols around the city and are checking schools and community areas where they believe there are a lot of kids traveling.

"The concern is valid," Lane said. "This happened at 7 o'clock at night when a young man was working out. This is not something that occurs in the city."

Related Coverage:

  • Gaithersburg Police Release Composite Sketch Of Kidnapping Suspect (April 25, 2013)
  • Police: No New Developments In Attempted Gaithersburg Kidnapping (April 24, 2013)
  • UPDATED: Boy Evades Kidnapper Monday In Gaithersburg (April 22, 2013)


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