Monrovia Kidnapping a Hoax, Suspect Freed

The 32-year-old man arrested and booked for kidnapping by sheriff's detectives following a two day manhunt in unincorporated Monrovia was released from custody Monday when investigators found information that discredited the 6-year-old child who claimed he was abducted.

A child on Friday and carried off by a man before he was able to free himself. The child claimed he bit the man and ran to safety.

A , and a suspect resembling that sketch was arrested Sunday night. But sheriff's detectives discovered unspecified evidence Monday that showed the child's story was "not truthful," Sheriff's Lt. Agustin Del Valle said.

"On November 7, 2011, as the investigation continued, additional information became available to investigators," Del Valle said, reading from a news release. "This information did not corroborate the facts as related by the victim and it became evident the child was not truthful with investigators about the kidnapping."

The man resembling the composite sketch was released Monday, Del Valle said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Harry Drucker said the department was not releasing the information that discredited the child's story Monday night but speculated that the child may have confessed to being untruthful.

"Most likely when something like this occurs, it's because a victim comes forward and says they didn't tell the truth," Drucker said.

News crews descended on the child's home Friday night after sheriff's detectives announced the alleged kidnapping. The child's father told television news reporters that they trained him to fight back if he was ever attacked.

"I’ve told him people will try to trick you," the mother told KCAL 9 News. They might say something nice. But if anyone grabs you, you fight. You fight. You kick. You bite. You scream. You yell. You draw blood. If anyone tries to take you, they aren’t doing anything nice. They’re trying to hurt you."

Sheriff's detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, according to Del Valle.