A Fairfield man was outsmarted by local authorities after a foiled kidnapping attempt on a 13-year-old student on her way to school. According to the Fairfield Police Department's press release, the incident occurred near Kidder Avenue and San Rafael Street at around 8:45 am on January 18. A woman, witnessing the suspicious interaction, intervened by offering the student a ride and reporting the event upon the student's safe arrival at school.
The School Resource Officer (SRO) Lawrence and Detective Miller took the reins, collecting surveillance footage that depicted the suspect's vehicle but fell short of revealing the license plate. While fighting off emergency calls and juggling Police and Fire radio chatter, Dispatcher Kadi Machado managed to track down the plate number using the FLOCK system and the City of Fairfield’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
The suspect's vehicle was located by Officer K. Rodriguez, parked and empty on the 1900 Block of Kidder Avenue. According to the department's statement, Detective Miller and other resource officers watched the vehicle for around four and a half hours. Their patience paid off when they spotted a man, Wilson Toia, fitting the suspect's description, take the wheel and drive off.
Officers Sandoval and Decker conducted the stop on East Tabor Avenue, which led to the swift capture of Toia. The 48-year-old Fairfield resident confessed to his attempt to seduce the child into his car and was booked on charges including attempted kidnapping, communicating with a minor with the intent to kidnap, and annoying or molesting a child. Additionally, Toia was cited for operating a vehicle on a suspended license. As the investigation continues, additional details have been put on hold. The Fairfield Police Department encourages anyone with information to step forward and contact them at (707)428-7300.
A public nod was given by the department to the vigilant citizen whose actions "very likely saved this young woman’s life." More information on Flock Safety and how the local police deploy it can be found on the department's Transparency Portal linked in the announcement.
