Man Tries Kidnapping Two Children From Apartment Complex

A day after a man attempted to kidnap two children from a Los Angeles apartment complex, surveillance video that shows the suspect running from the scene has provided more details about the incident, police said Wednesday. 

A neighbor in the complex said she saw the man leave in a pick up truck, and police used the video the identify the suspect's possible vehicle as a burgundy 2000 Chevrolet S10 pick up truck. 

Police also released a sketch Tuesday in hopes the public can help identify the man, described as a Hispanic, about 25-years-old, 6 feet tall and about 150 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes, was wearing a wide-brimmed hat, dark sunglasses, a red T-shirt, blue jeans and white shoes. He was also described as having dental braces with blue bands.

The attempted kidnapping occured just before just before 7 p.m. Monday when the children, ages 2 and 3, were playing with other kids in a courtyard in the 1700 block of South Westmoreland Boulevard in Mid-City.

A man scaled a rear chain-link fence, grabbed both children and tried to carry them away, officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said.

When the other children began screaming, the man dropped his would-be victims and fled, police said.

Michelle Ramos, the 8-year-old sister of the 2-year-old boy, said she held on to her brother as he was being carried away.

"I pulled them really hard because I didn't want my brother to go," she said.

That's when the man turned to scare her.

"Shh! Because I'm going to take you, too," she recalled.

Ramos' father, Ricardo Ramos, says he's proud of his daughter’s actions.

"Knowing that my child could have been somewhere out there in some creep's hands, you know?" he said.

Police said the man entered the apartment courtyard by jumping the fence and left through the front gate. Surveillance video showed him running away down the street from the apartment. 

Anyone with information was urged to call the LAPD.