LAGUNA HILLS : Witness Wards Off 2 Attackers

An alert resident helped ward off two attackers who had abducted a 16-year-old Laguna Hills girl on Sunday, causing them to flee into the path of a waiting sheriff’s deputy, sheriff’s officers reported Tuesday.

Marcos Ramon Ramirez, 26, and Fernando Colin Hernandez, 28, both of Laguna Hills, were arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of assault to commit kidnaping and were placed in Orange County Jail, Lt. Dick Olsen said. Bail was set at $50,000.

The victim said she was walking near Camberwell and Hendon streets shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday when two men began following her, Olsen said. They chased and eventually caught the girl. They then picked her up and carried her to a grassy area nearby.

A resident heard her cries, called the Sheriff’s Department and then went outside and began yelling at the two men, officials said.

The men to fled into Beckenham Park, where Sheriff’s Deputy Joel Buchlmayer saw them running and detained them, Olsen said.

“They almost ran right into the hands of one of our deputies,” Olsen said. “How convenient.”

Officers said the victim was not hurt and later identified the two men. The suspects were scheduled to be arraigned this week.