The father of a 7-year-old girl who was nearly kidnapped last week as she walked to her after-school program on a Solana Beach campus said the suspect in the case “messed with the wrong girl.”
“This guy messed with the wrong girl and the wrong community,” said the girl’s father, Mike Paeske, at a media briefing in San Diego Thursday. “We are so proud of our daughter for the way she handled the attack. She is our inspiration and our hero.”
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced they had arrested suspect Jack Henry Doshay, 22, in connection with the attempted kidnapping. Doshay, son of an affluent businessman who has been a part-owner of the San Diego Padres, was taken into custody in Laguna Niguel, California, on Wednesday evening, officials said.
The attempted kidnapping happened on March 23 at Skyline Elementary School on Lomas Santa Fe Drive.
The suspect allegedly walked onto the campus armed with a roll of duct tape and tried to wrap the tape around the girl’s head and carry her off.
Deputies said the young girl screamed and managed to escape, and the suspect fled the scene.
The school held a meeting with concerned parents to discuss details of the incident and talk about ways to teach children what to do in a similar “stranger danger” situation.
Deputies said the girl “did the right thing” by yelling and escaping.
“She screamed and made herself not a victim; she did a great job,” said Capt. Theresa Adams-Hydar.
According to San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore, Doshay’s brother lives near Skyline Elementary School. Doshay lives with his parents in Fairbanks Ranch.
Gore said a number of tips came into the sheriff’s department after the attempted kidnapping and those leads led detectives to Doshay.
At Thursday’s media briefing, Paeske said his family, including his wife, Joy, was extreme grateful to the sheriff’s department and public for aiding in Doshay’s arrest.
“Your tips and phone calls were a huge support to this investigation,” said Paeske.
“San Diego County families can sleep a little bit better knowing that one less threat is out there on the street. Apprehension was a huge milestone in our ordeal. Now, we begin healing,” he added.
