After police and FBI agents rushed to the scene and found Connor still strapped in his car seat a bloodhound was summoned to try to trace the movements of the suspect.Authorities have identified 27-year-old Ramon David Maldonado as the suspect in the vehicle theft and kidnapping. Maldonado is also wanted for a parole violation.Maldonado is 5 feet 9 inches tall, 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos of “Santa Maria” across his back and a nude woman on one arm.Anyone with information on Maldonado or the kidnapping is asked to call Det. Cpl. Tom Mendez at 339-4477 or 339-4416.
SP boy found safe after Ventura kidnapping, car theft
June 25, 2003
Santa Paula News
Ventura Police have shifted their search to Santa Maria for the man they believe hopped into an idling SUV on Thursday in a pizza parlor parking lot, taking off with a 1-year-old Santa Paula boy strapped into a back seat car seat.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesVentura Police have shifted their search to Santa Maria for the man they believe hopped into an idling SUV on Thursday in a pizza parlor parking lot, taking off with a 1-year-old Santa Paula boy strapped into a back seat car seat.Connor Tushla was found safe in Oxnard about an hour after he was kidnapped at about 4 p.m. from Valentino’s, located at a Seaward Avenue and Main Street shopping center. Connor’s father, Dr. Michael Tushla, left the sleeping baby in his Jeep Cherokee with the engine running and entered the restaurant to buy fresh pizza dough. . .when he returned a minute later to check on the baby, the Jeep was gone.Tushla reentered the pizzeria in a panic, according to an employee. Connor was found after an anonymous caller believed to be the suspect called the Tushla’s Santa Paula residence and left a message that the boy and SUV could be found in the parking lot of Spudnuts Donuts at Victoria Avenue and Fifth Street in Oxnard.Connor’s mother, Misty Tushla, who was out of town, had called her home to check her messages and heard the anonymous tip about her son’s whereabouts. Police were notified just seconds before an Amber Alert was to be released for broadcast.
