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Authorities arrested a Lake Elsinore man late Sunday afternoon in connection with the disappearance of Poway teen Chelsea King.
John Albert Gardner III, 30, was arrested about 4:20 p.m.outside a restaurant on the 19000 block of Lake Drive in Escondido, said Darrell Foxworth, FBI spokesman speaking on behalf of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
“Charges are pending,” Foxworth said, adding Sunday evening that it could take up to 48 hours for authorities to determine Gardner’s alleged crime.
As for the 17-year-old teen who disappeared Thursday from Rancho Bernardo Community Park, “we’re still looking for her,” Foxworth said.
Gardner is listed on the California Megan’s Law Web site for previously committing “lewd or lascivious acts with (a) child under 14 years.”
On the Web site, he is described as being 6 foot 2 inches tall and 230 pounds.
Foxworth would not say what led authorities to Gardner, only that “information and evidence developed leading to the arrest.” The investigation is ongoing, he added.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 locals volunteered for the second day to help find King who is 5 feet 5 inches tall, 115 pounds with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.
Authorities
from several Southern California counties and agencies have been combing the
Rancho Bernardo Community Park area and Lake Hodges since Thursday night when
King’s father found her black BMW parked in the recreation center's parking lot and no sign of his daughter.
It is believed King went to the park after leaving Poway High around 2 p.m. Thursday to jog on the trails, as was her habit.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to call San Diego Sheriff’s Department at 858-565-5200.