By Khalida Sarwari
A 40-year-old gardener has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a young girl to molest her as she was playing hide-and-seek with her friends in Morgan Hill, police announced today.
Officers arrested Fidel Gaytan, 40, after the little girl notified an adult who reported the incident to police.
The crime occurred on June 28 in the neighborhood of Pine Avenue, according to police.
The girl was playing outside with her friends while Gaytan was across the street working in a yard, police said.
When he saw the girl standing alone next to a mailbox, he walked up to her and told her he would help her find her friends, according to police.
He then grabbed the victim’s hand and walked her to an area between two homes covered by shrubs, where he allegedly pulled up her skirt. The victim pushed his hands away and was able to escape, police said.
Gaytan is currently being held in Santa Clara County Jail.
Police are continuing to investigate the case and ask anyone with information to call Detective Thomas at (408) 779-2101.