ENCINITAS — A man was arrested Thursday in connection with the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl the previous day in Encinitas, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
David Francis Canfield, 39, allegedly assaulted the girl at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday near the 600 block of 3rd Street, according to the Sheriff’s Office.Â
A preliminary investigation found the suspect had allegedly confronted the teenager as she was walking and ordered her to a parking lot before forcing her into a vehicle where the sexual assault took place. The suspect then fled the scene.Â
Detectives from the sheriff’s Sexual Assault Unit were able to identify Canfield and his vehicle by utilizing Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. He was subsequently arrested in the 6300 block of University Avenue in San Diego and booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, rape and forcible oral copulation.
He was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
According to court records, Canfield has a previous unrelated criminal case pending, filed on Sept. 5 in Chula Vista Superior Court, but no further details were available. The Coast News has contacted the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office seeking more information.
In Encinitas, the Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with additional information to call the sheriff’s Sexual Assault Unit at (858) 285-6222. After hours, please contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (858) 868-3200.
