3 arrested in kidnapping of 14-year-old

3 arrested in kidnapping of 14-year-old


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SANTA CLARA — Three teenage boys in Utah's Dixie are spending the night in juvenile detention, accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl.

Savannah Tuttle was jogging near Canyon View Drive and Desert Dawn Drive Monday night when she says three masked teenagers approached her.

"I kept running up the hill, and then I heard laughing and the door slamming. And Two guys without their shirts on, and like monster masks, with like clown masks, came up and grabbed me from behind," Savannah said. "I didn't know what to do. I was in shock."

She was then forced in the back of a covered pickup truck. The teens drove the truck for a while, and when they stopped, Savannah decided to take action.

Savannah Tuttle was running in this 
neighborhood, near Canyon 
View Drive and Desert Dawn Drive, Monday 
night when 
she says she was abducted by three teenagers 
and forced into the back of a pickup truck. 
She 
was later able to escape.
Savannah Tuttle was running in this neighborhood, near Canyon View Drive and Desert Dawn Drive, Monday night when she says she was abducted by three teenagers and forced into the back of a pickup truck. She was later able to escape.

"I was able to jump out, and I decided to run the opposite direction they were. It was pitch black, and I had never been in that neighborhood," she said. "After about 10 minutes of running aimlessly in the road, I was able to recognize (where I was) and was able to run home."

Some parents in town say the incident was just a prank, but police are very concerned.

"To minimize this action is just as bad as the action itself. It's wrong," said Ken Campbell, director of the Santa Clara Public Safety Department.

Savannah was able to give police a vehicle description, which they used to make the arrests. Campbell couldn't provide many details on the incident because the suspects are under age, but did confirm they were taken into custody.

"They are in juvenile detention, and the charges will be filed," Campbell said.

Police are still investigating. The teens could face federal charges.

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Nadine Wimmer

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