Man accused of attempted kidnapping in San Jose still at large

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ByDavid Louie KGO logo
Monday, September 5, 2016
Man accused of attempted kidnapping in San Jose still at large
San Jose police say they're still searching for an extremely violent, convicted sex offender accused of assaulting two women and trying to kidnap them last week.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose police are concerned that a known sex offender accused of assaulting two women and trying to kidnap them last week may be on the move.

Police are asking the public throughout the Bay Area to keep an eye out for David Lee Russell, 56, who they said is an extremely violent convicted sex offender.

READ MORE: Violent sex offender wanted for assault, attempted kidnapping arrested in San Jose

Russell is described as a white man, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, 200 pounds with salt-and-pepper hair and a goatee. Police believe Russell is driving a newer model white Nissan Rogue with no license plates.

David Lee Russell, 56, is seen next to a newer model white Nissan Rogue with no license plates in this undated image.
KGO-TV

San Jose police have been keeping an eye on two intersections where the attacks happened. The first attack occurred at Hamilton and Meridian avenues and the second attack occurred at Hillsdale and Narvaez avenues.

WATCH VIDEO: San Jose police searching for attempted kidnapping suspect

Police believe his next attack could be anywhere since he is mobile. "Within 15 or 20 minutes, you could be out of this county, so we want everybody to keep their eyes and ears open for any information about the suspect. If they spot the suspect, definitely call 911 immediately," San Jose Police Department Sgt. Enrique Garcia said.

Russell is a transient and a registered sex offender, so police want to get him off the street. "We know that this guy has a very violent history, you know he's a sexual predator, and clearly he's not doing this to be kind. This guy is dangerous," Garcia said.

The assault and attempted kidnapping of the two women happened in what most people consider safe neighborhoods at 5 p.m. on a week day. It's common to see women walking alone in the area.

Rebecca O'Bryan is a former federal officer who teaches what she calls defense-ability classes. Her advice is simple. "Use your voice, yell as loud as you can, call 911, 'I need help, somebody help me' and just keep yelling, don't go silently," O'Bryan said.

It worked just last week for one of her students. "She had been having dinner by herself in a restaurant, and as she walked out, there was a man following her and making comments and saying things, and she turned around and she used her voice, and that's all she had to do and he took off," O'Bryan said.

Anyone with information about Russell's location is asked to call Detective Michael White of the San Jose Police Department's robbery unit at (408) 277-4166.

Tips can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP (7867). A person who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect may receive a cash reward.

Bay City News has contributed to this report.