Possible kidnap try in central Fresno

Fresno police are investigating a possible kidnapping attempt after two women were accosted in central Fresno Monday morning.

Lt. Joe Gomez said the first incident took place in the Tower District around 8:30 a.m., where a woman told officers a man approached her in the Bank of America parking lot near Olive and Wishon avenues and asked for her phone number. When she said no, he offered her $100 to get into a van. She told the man to leave her alone and he threatened to hit her in the face. The woman sought help from a security guard and the man fled west on Olive.

About 8:45 a.m., Gomez said a suspect who officers believe is the same man reportedly tried to pull a woman into a van near Clark Avenue and Olive after first asking for her phone number. When she said no, he grabbed her around the hips. She struck him and he let go and returned to the van before driving west on Olive. A citizen chased the man north on Blackstone Avenue but could not get a license plate number.

In an alert to officers, the van was described as a red- or rust-colored Dodge van. The man was described as a Hispanic or Asian male who is about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 230 to 250 pounds.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Possible kidnap try in central Fresno."