A man was arrested in Vista Saturday after he allegedly tried to kidnap a child.
According to officials, suspect Javier Martinez Mendez, 48, tried to kidnap the child in the 1500 block of West Vista Way around 6:30 p.m. The child was walking home alone from a small market in the area at the time of the incident.
Somehow, the child was able to escape.
Once the child’s parents found out about the attempted kidnapping, officials say the parents tracked down the suspect – who was still circling the area -- and followed Mendez until deputies arrived.
Mendez was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility.
He’s currently being held on a $100,000 bail on charges of kidnapping and annoying a child. He’s scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Officials have not released any more details, and the incident is under investigation. Check back for updates on this developing story.