News headline from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department:

Shortly after 10:30 a.m. on July 25th, officers from the Moreno Valley Police Department received a call reporting that a man had just attempted to kidnap a 12-year-old girl in the 23000 block of Alessandro Boulevard in Moreno Valley, near Frederick Street and Graham Street.

Officers responded and found the victim, unharmed but terrified, in the company of a citizen.  The victim ran to the citizen in the area screaming for help and he called 911 as soon as he understood what happened.

The victim said she was walking home when she was approached by a Hispanic man on a bicycle.  The suspect attempted to engage her in conversation, identifying himself as a member of the “Neighborhood Watch.”  He asked her several probing questions and she became fearful.  He attempted to hand her something and she began to run away.  He chased after her and grabbed her from behind.  The victim began screaming loudly and struggled violently with the suspect, striking him with her elbows.  She finally broke free and the suspect fled on his bicycle.  The victim ran to the citizen in the area, screaming for help.

The citizen called 911 and provided an excellent description of the suspect, including his clothing.

An investigator with the Moreno Valley Police Department’s Gang Unit was in the area on another investigation and immediately began looking for the suspect.  Within minutes, the investigator spotted and detained the suspect.

The suspect was identified as Jonathan Perez, 23, of Moreno Valley.  Perez was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of kidnapping and a parole violation.

The victim was returned to her mother unharmed.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Moreno Valley Police Department at 951-486-6700 or 951-776-1099.

Filed under Headline

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Not working? Click here!