SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Police Department is investigating an attempted kidnapping in the West Portal area. The incident took place on Thursday, March 23 at around 5 p.m. near Forest Side Avenue in the city’s West Portal neighborhood.

The kidnapper has been identified by police as 26 year-old Lee Mason Eigl. Police arrested Eigl at around 1 a.m. on Friday, after spotting his car. The arrest was made within 8 hours of the attempted kidnapping.

Eigl allegedly kidnapped the 13 year-old, forcedly trying to put her in his car. Two witnesses around the area heard the girls’ screaming and gathered around the place of the incident. The suspect left the girl and drove off heading south on Forest Side Avenue.

According to a press release from the SFPD, officers from Taraval Police Station responded to the scene and commenced an investigation. Officers provided a description of the vehicle to Dispatch which was subsequently broadcast. Taraval units began searching the district for the vehicle. Special Victims Unit investigators responded to the scene and began their extensive investigation.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., two Taraval officers spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle involved in the kidnapping. The vehicle was located in the Taraval District. The officers subsequently conducted a felony stop on the vehicle,

Eigl was taken into custody without incident and was booked for kidnapping and assault with intent to commit rape on a person under 18 years old. Due to pending identification matters, the subject’s photo will not be released at this time.

“The victim screamed which drew the attention of witnesses, who opened the door and pulled the victim out of the car,” said SFPD Assistant Chief Toney Chaplin at a news conference outside the Bayview Station.

Eigl’s mother, Gail Eigl, a teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District, spoke to KRON 4 after being contacted by police on Wednesday:

“I have never seen him do anything like this. He has a loving girlfriend. I mean, you know the only thing I can think of is the Brock, that case, and I don’t want to be another one of those parents who was like, ‘Oh he such a special boy,’ blah blah blah. Of course, I love him dearly, and I hope that they’re wrong.”

The San Francisco Police Department thanked the Good Samaritans who acted quickly to save the victim and provided the department with pertinent information which assisted in the suspect’s arrest.

Although an arrest has been made, investigators are asking anyone with information on this case to contact the San Francisco Police anonymously at 415-575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message.

Written By Parnika Goel and Alexandra Evans