Suspect arre­sted in West Portal kidnap attempt

A San Francisco man arrested early Thursday morning in connection with an attempted kidnapping in the city’s West Portal neighborhood on Wednesday has been identified by police as 27-year-old Lee Mason Eigl.

Eigl was arrested around 1 a.m. after investigators spotted the vehicle allegedly involved in the attack outside his home, Assistant Chief Toney Chaplin said.

Eigl was identified as a suspect with the help of two witnesses who helped pull the 13-year-old girl away from the suspect and provided a description and partial license plate, Chaplin said.

Chaplin Thursday praised the two for their quick action, noting that while bystanders may not always be able to directly intervene, “the best help you can be is to be a good witness.”

The attempted kidnapping occurred at about 5 p.m. Wednesday when the girl was walking in the first block of Forest Side Avenue. A man got out of a vehicle, grabbed her and tried to get her into his vehicle, according to police.

The girl screamed and several people came to help pull her away.

The man drove off in his vehicle, which went south on Forest Side Avenue, according to police.

Eigl was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and assault with intent to take a person under 18. He remains in custody with bail set at $400,000.

Police are investigating whether any similar incidents may have occurred in the area.

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