A disturbing incident unfolded near a Los Gatos elementary school yesterday morning, leading to the arrest of a 63-year-old Los Gatos man. According to a social media post by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, officers were called to Los Gatos Blvd close to Louise Van Meter Elementary School around 8:10 am after receiving a report of a physical altercation.
It was reported that a community member had engaged in an altercation with an individual who appeared to be filming juveniles with his phone. The suspect, identified as John Alan Hale, was taken into custody and faces charges for battery, annoying and harassing minors, and, more alarmingly, attempted kidnapping. The heinous nature of the allegations that Hale tried to restrain a juvenile has added an element of urgency to the investigation.
As the investigation is active, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department has not released the the suspect's photo or any additional investigative details currently. They have, however, issued a call for any information that may be pertinent to the case. Detective Heather Murphy has been pointed out as the contact person for anyone with insights into the suspect's actions or the incident itself, and she can be reached at 408-827-3228.
