An 8-year-old girl fights off a would-be kidnapper who came into her bedroom late at night wearing a clown mask with the intention of snatching her.
Girl fights off abductor
Around 2:30 a.m. on October 15, Sterling Police were summoned to a residence for a suspected home invasion and attempted kidnapping.
The intruder allegedly invaded the Colorado home between 1 and 2 a.m., with police suggesting the suspect likely used the back door, which was possibly unlocked, to enter and exit.
According to KUSA, the girl informed police that the perpetrator came into her room, placed a blindfold over her eyes, and pulled her from her bed.
The affidavit noted that the girl began to fight back, which led the suspect to hit her on the head, causing her to lose consciousness.
Once the young girl regained consciousness, she promptly ran to her mother’s room to report the incident.
During the attack, the suspect wore a cloth clown mask, which, along with a pair of gloves, was left behind in the child’s room, as noted by KUSA.
Police track kidnapper after girl fights him off
Police indicated that the suspect also confiscated the victim’s phone, which allowed them to use location data to assist in identifying him.
The would-be kidnapper was identified as 56-year-old Thomas Gallegos, who resides in the same neighborhood.
The girl’s mother told police that Gallegos had been in their home the previous weekend to help install a washer and dryer.
Gallegos was apprehended under suspicion of several charges, including first-degree burglary, attempted second-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and child abuse.
His Gallegos’ next court appearance is scheduled for November 4.
Savvy teen tricks sexual predator
In a separate incident, Arizona police praised the quick-thinking of a teenage girl, whose actions reportedly helped apprehend a potential sexual predator.
The 14-year-old was walking home from school on October 16 when a 37-year-old man named Isaiah Navarro came up to her, the Glendale Police Department said.
Police obtained Ring security footage showing the teenager crossing a street in a residential area while Navarro was inside his vehicle.
He initiated a conversation with the girl, asking her for the closest McDonald’s location, to which she gave him directions.
Navarro allegedly asked for the girl’s phone number, and the savvy teen cleverly gave him her mother’s cell phone number instead of her own.
After the teen informed her mother about the encounter, the mother contacted the police.
Navarro reportedly started sending text messages to the number, unaware he was conversing with detectives rather than the 14-year-old.
In one exchange, when asked his age, Navarro allegedly responded that he was 37-years-old, later adding, “Is that OK?”
The detectives replied, “I’m a minor,” to which they purportedly wrote, “My mom will get so mad, so will my dad. I’m only 14.”
Navarro allegedly replied, “Maybe one day. Can you keep our convo between me and you?” He also reportedly requested photos of the girl.
Police said the conversation continued to get “more graphic” with the suspect asking for “specific sex acts” despite knowing the girl was a minor.
Police added that Navarro “invited the victim to perform sexual acts with him,” and repeatedly sought to meet with the girl, calling the number at least 30 times.
Detectives arranged a time and place to meet, and when Navarro showed up a few hours later, he was met by police and arrested at the scene.
Navarro was booked into Maricopa County Jail on charges of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and attempting to commit sexual conduct with a minor. He is currently behind bars on a $250,000 bond.
