Suspect in Attempted Kidnapping Arrested by Fairfield Police

The Fairfield Police Department announced a man has been arrested for the attempted kidnapping of a female student earlier this week was detained by Fairfield Police.

61-year-old Ronald McKinney of Vallejo is a high risk sex offender on parole and had a parole violation warrant outstanding at the time of his arrest. He is being transported to County Jail.

The attempted kidnapping occurred Wednesday in the 2600 block of North Texas Street when a man, now identified as McKinney, approached the girl as she was walking and tried to get her to leave with him. He fled when she stated she was calling the police.

McKinney was located today by a patrol officer performing a security check around the schools. The officer then called school resource officers who, following a thorough investigation, confirmed McKinney was person in question.

Original Release:

Fairfield Police Request Assistance Identifying Man in Suspected Kidnapping Attempt in 2600 Block of North Texas Street

This morning a young female student reported to school officials that, yesterday at around 3:15 pm, while she was walking near a church in the 2600 block of North Texas Street, an unknown man approached and tried to kidnap her.

The man, described as a white male in his late 40’s or early 50’s, 5’11”-6’ tall, medium build with greenish/blue eyes and a grey beard, asked the girl’s name.

Although she refused to tell him her name, he insisted that her parents had sent him to pick her up and told her she needed to go with him. When she replied that she was going to call the police, he got into his vehicle and left. Note that this incident did not occur on a school campus.

The man’s vehicle is described as a small, newer SUV either black or dark grey in color with chrome wheels.

Fairfield Police school resource officers are actively investigating this incident and ask that anyone with information regarding this incident call (707)428-7300.

As a reminder, please talk to your children regularly about the dangers associated with people they do not know.

Below are a few “Stranger Danger” Tips to help facilitate those discussions:

1. First, define “stranger” with your children. You can say, “A stranger is someone we don’t know at all or know very well. Many people are kind and have good intentions, but we cannot tell who kind is just by looking at them.”
2. Reiterate that children should never walk off with or get into a car with a stranger.
3. Children should never accept anything from a stranger – including gifts, sweets or an invitation to see something “interesting” or “exciting”.
4. Children should never wander off on their own without telling a parent or a trusted adult first.
5. Tell your children it’s fine to “break the rules” if they are in danger. They should yell, kick, lie, scream, run away and do whatever it takes to escape or bring attention to themselves if someone attempts to take them.
6.  Create a code word or sign that only you and your children know. If you send someone in your place to pick them up, that person should know the code word/sign as well.
7. Children also need to know there are some strangers it’s safe to turn to for help. Familiarize them with the uniforms of police officers, paramedics, and other public safety members. Let them know they should speak to these people if ever they feel lost or afraid.
8. Likewise, help your children identify safe spaces. Let them know they can also seek help in buildings identifiable as police departments, post offices, libraries, hospitals, and grocery stores, etc. – places where many people are often gathered.

Communication is important when it comes to the safety of our children. Share these tips and more with them now and equip them with the knowledge needed to navigate incidents like the one prompting this post. It’s never too early to instill personal safety awareness.