GRANITE BAY, CA — A middle school girl is safe after a man allegedly tried to abduct her at a bus stop in Granite Bay on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. at the corner of Douglas Boulevard and Quail Oaks Drive, when the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Joshua Landreth, approached the girl and allegedly demanded that she leave with him.
According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the girl was able to escape and ran home, where she immediately informed her parents. Deputies responded quickly to the scene and began a search for Landreth, who was found approximately a mile away from the location of the incident.
At first, Landreth did not comply with deputies’ orders, but after a brief standoff, he was taken into custody without further incident. While the suspect did not physically touch the girl, the Sheriff’s Office classified the incident as an attempted kidnapping, citing the nature of the interaction.
“The safety of children is our priority, and any report of this kind is taken extremely seriously,” said Elise Soviar, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office. “Deputies responded quickly to ensure the girl was safe.”
Investigators also discovered that Landreth had an outstanding arrest warrant for theft. He has since been booked into the Placer County Jail on charges of attempted kidnapping.
This alleged attempt is considered unusual for the area, and law enforcement has reassured the community that they will continue to respond swiftly to any similar incidents in the future.
Landreth remains in custody as the investigation continues.
