Fallbrook CA- On Monday, May 19 shortly after 5:00 p.m., a male later identified as Joseph Lawrence Smith (D.O.B. 01/11/92) forced entry into his ex-girlfriend’s residence in the 200 block of E. Dougherty Street, Fallbrook armed with a baseball bat, and kidnapped her 3 year old child from the babysitter by force. Smith threw the baby over his shoulder and fled the residence to a vehicle waiting outside occupied by two females later identified as driver Brenna Pauline Roskop (D.O.B. 02/09/93) and passenger Taylor Hood (D.O.B. 01/21/94).
The babysitter attempted to stop Smith outside the residence and was thrown to the ground by Joseph Smith causing minor injuries. She was treated and released from Fallbrook Hospital.
The vehicle fled the scene. While sheriff’s deputies were compiling the initial information from the babysitter, Smith returned the baby to her mother who was at work in 100 block of S. Main, Fallbrook within 10 minutes of the kidnapping. The baby was uninjured.
Fallbrook sheriff’s detectives forwarded the suspect information to the San Diego Fugitive Task Force for assistance in locating the suspects. Fugitive Task Force personnel tracked the suspects to a residence in the 200 block of Wonsan Drive, Camp Pendleton in De Luz housing at Hood’s residence who is related to an active duty marine. The marine was not present during the contact, and was not involved in the crime.
Task Force personnel took the child kidnap suspects, Smith, Hood and Roskop into custody with the assistance of NCIS and USMC Criminal Investigations Division without incident. The investigation is continuing.
The three suspects will be booked into Vista Detention Facility on charges related to kidnapping, conspiracy, burglary and assault.
Any additional information can be directed to Detective Lisa Jenkins of the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation at 760-451-3106