By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]/ Bay City News
Police officers arrested a 35-year-old man last week for allegedly attempting to kidnap a teenage girl from a coffee shop, the Redwood City Police Department said Monday.
Officers responded around 6:45 p.m. Friday to the Teaspoon store at 2361 Broadway after receiving reports that the man, identified as Brandon Yamagata, approached a 16-year-old girl in front of the store and grabbed her arm in an effort to pull her away.
A third person who allegedly witnessed Yamagata holding the girl pinned down intervened and told him to leave her alone, according to Redwood City police.
The man then allegedly followed the girl into the coffee shop and attempted to grab her arm and place it around her back. The bystander intervened a second time and managed to get him to leave. Following the incident, officers arrested Yamagata, who was identified as the suspect who took the girl, and booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in San Mateo County.
Persons with additional information about Yamagata may contact the Redwood City Police Department tip line at (650) 780-7110 or Detective Sgt. Nick Perna at (650) 780-7672.