There was a huge collective sigh of relief amongst everybody involved in it,” said Bavencoff. “I told several people, you almost want to cry, OK, we found her, she s safe now.
Police said she was inside an apartment with her captor, Jose D. Melena. The apartment on El Cajon Boulevard belonged to Melena’s friend.
Officers removed the girl from the apartment unharmed. Police said Melena barricaded himself in a bathroom where he reportedly tried to take his own life. Officers performed life-saving measures and transported him to a hospital where he underwent surgery. After several days in the hospital, Melena was booked into the central jail.