Arrest made in connection with string of OC attempted kidnappings, child annoyance reports
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - The Orange County Sheriff’s Department made an arrest related to a string of attempted kidnappings and child annoyance reports in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Hills this month.
According to authorities, Christopher Lopez, 30, of Aliso Viejo, was taken into custody at approximately noon on Wednesday. He was then booked at the O.C. Jail on misdemeanor child molestation or annoyance.
Lopez’s arrest follows one day after OCSD officials announced an investigation into a possible link between other attempted kidnappings and child annoyance reports in the Aliso Viejo and Laguna Hills areas and the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail that connects the cities.
Deputies are still investigating to see if there are more suspects involved.
Earlier this month, on September 12, a 12-year-old girl reported she was touched by a man on her way to school around 9 a.m. The student attends Aliso Viejo Middle School and authorities said she confronted the suspect and yelled at him before getting away.
She then reported the incident to school officials.
The second child annoyance incident occurred on September 17, deputies received a report that a 16-year-old female walking home from Aliso Niguel High School along the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail was touched by a male suspect.
Then on September 18, a man allegedly attempted to kidnap an 11-year-old girl while she was walking her dog along the Aliso Creek Trail in Laguna Hills near Via Lomas and Sheep Hills Park. This happened around 6:30 p.m., sheriff's officials said.
The latest incident was reported on Tuesday, September 24. Authorities said that a man attempted to kidnap a 28-year-old woman around 8:45 a.m. along the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail near Sheep Hills Park near the underpass of Moulton Parkway.
The investigation is ongoing and members of the Task Force continue to follow up on tips and leads as they are received.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7419, or submit an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.