DAVIS, Calif — A man turned himself into police in connection to an attempted kidnapping of a UC Davis graduate student on Aug. 12.
James Garvin, a Davis resident, turned himself in after being ordered to by police. He was booked into the Yolo County Jail and faces charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault with great bodily injury.
Police said Garvin targeted, trailed the victim and held her down for a few moments before she was able to fend him off and run to safety.
"He did not give a statement, so we don't really know his intent. We do know from surveillance camera he was there for a little bit. What he was doing there, it's hard to say. There was no real suspicious activity, just he seemed to be meandering in different areas of the Arboretum," said UC Davis Police Captain Mark Brunet.
The attempted kidnapping happened near the Arboretum near the Aubrey River Trail on the UC Davis campus, which is usually considered a safe path for students, bikers and walkers.
“It sounds really scary honestly. I walk here all the time,” said Payton Walsh, a fellow graduate student at UC Davis. “...I still haven't fully processed it honestly. Like yeah, it's kind of alarming and out of the ordinary, I would say."
Students and others who visit the same trail said they feel more at ease knowing Garvin won’t be able to target anyone else.
Police said they are monitoring campus 24/7, but they are advising students to be vigilant of their surroundings and take proper security precautions.
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