Good Samaritan saves woman from attempted kidnapping in San Leandro

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KGO) -- A Good Samaritan stepped in to save a woman from an attempted kidnapping in San Leandro. Police say the attempted kidnapping happened in broad daylight.

Yong-Sung Leal says he is not a hero, but police believe he may have saved a life.

"So she is just gargling on Mace, it's all in her face and she even can't protect herself," said Leal.

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Leal ran over to help when he saw the 23-year-old woman being Maced and dragged by her ankles toward her attacker's car.

"I just ran and I got them loose and made sure she was free and ok and then I started going at it with the guy then he started Macing me -- just a total coward," said Leal.

The attack happened on Washington Avenue in San Leandro at 7:45 a.m. while the woman was walking to work. The attacker is described as a black man with a goatee and glasses, about 5'10" tall.

"He was well groomed and looked like a guy that if you had to judge him based on looks, 'oh okay not a bad looking dude,'" said Leal.

Leal remembers trying to fight him and protect himself.

"I was mainly trying to avoid the Mace. I knew if I lost my vision that would be two people down, so I had to make sure I stayed coherent and had his attention on me," said Leal.

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The man broke free and got away, but the woman is safe. Police described what could have happened.

"She felt her feet entering the car. So it was that close to him getting her into the car and leaving. I truly think that if you are this brazen to have that kind of attack in broad day light in public it would have ended in tragedy," said San Leandro Police Lt. Ron Clark.

"She was in a lot of shock, just seeing that kind of terror in her face was just, she shouldn't have had to gone through that or anyone for that matter," Leal.

The suspect's car is described as a silver Nissan sedan with tinted windows and silver spoked wheels.

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