A man has been arrested following an alleged kidnapping attempt on a woman at the UC Davis Arboretum. The suspect, James Garvin, was taken into custody on Tuesday, with the UC Davis Police Department linking him to the incident that occured on August 12. According to The Sacramento Bee, Garvin, who is not affiliated with UC Davis as a student or employee, faces charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault with great bodily injury.
On the evening of the incident, the woman was walking through the arboretum when she was approached from behind and grabbed, the police said. Released after posting bond, jail records show that Garvin was booked at Yolo County Jail at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Managing to escape and seek assistance, the victim's identity remains undisclosed for her protection. "The reported assault occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Aug. 12," the UC Davis Police Department mentioned in their announcement of the arrest, as cited by The Sacramento Bee.
The subsequent arrest came after Garvin surrendered himself around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, nearly a week after the event. The UC Davis Police Department was able to identify him using evidence such as video recordings, as indicated in a statement obtained by ABC10. The details about the nature of the injuries sustained by the woman or any other specifics about the encounter were not immediately clear.
In the aftermath of the incident, the UC Davis Police Department shared safety tips for individuals on campus, including staying aware of one’s surroundings and minimizing distractions like using phones or wearing headphones while walking or biking. According to The Sacramento Bee, the UC Davis Police Department also advised: "Trust your instincts. If something feels off, seek a safe location or contact campus police."
