GARDEN GROVE (CNS) - A 21-year-old woman's report that a man attempted to kidnap her and pull her into a van with two other men inside in Garden Grove turned out to be false, police said today.
The woman had said she was walking about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Bixby Avenue and Brookhurst Street when a man attempted to drag her into a van with one man at the side door ready to pull her into the vehicle, according to Garden Grove police.
Once she sprayed the first man with pepper spray, he released her and fled in the van, the woman told police.
However, an investigation that included a review of surveillance video and interviews of the purported suspects led detectives to conclude the attempted kidnapping never happened, according to Garden Grove police Lt. Carl Whitney,
“Detectives confronted the victim with the investigation findings, and she admitted she fabricated the story,” Whitney said.
The woman could face prosecution for reporting a false crime, he said, noting that numerous hours were spent on the case, which was publicized and caused “alarm and concern for many Garden Grove residents.”
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