POWAY–Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a Poway man after he abducted and returned a neighbor’s two-year-old daughter to her apartment Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff’s Deputies received a radio call of a kidnapping that occurred at 17161 Alva Road in 4S Ranch. The girl was abducted from her apartment by a neighbor, later identified as 35-year-old Douglas Schwerdt, who lived in the same building. The victim’s mother and Schwerdt were friends, but it was a non-dating relationship.
Earlier that day, Schwerdt called the mother and asked if he could take her daughter for a hike. The mother refused. The victim’s mother left her apartment to run an errand, while leaving the children with their grandfather.
Sometime between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m., Schwerdt knocked on the victim’s apartment door, but was refused entry by the grandfather. The gandfather became distracted and had to go to another part of his apartment. When he returned moments later, the two-year-old victim and Schwerdt were gone.
After establishing a kidnapping had occurred, deputies and detectives conducted a search for almost two hours looking for the child. Sheriff’s ASTREA and San Diego police also assisted in the search. While searching for the child, Schwerdt called the victim’s mother and told the mother he had the victim and was bringing her home.
Deputies detained Schwerdt a few minutes later as he drove into the apartment complex with the victim. He was later arrested. The child appeared unharmed and was returned to her mother.
Deputies and detectives from the Poway Station are still investigating
