Salt Lake City police say a man was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly attempted to kidnap a 12-year-old girl as she walked to school. Photo credit: Salt Lake City Police Department.
SALT LAKE CITY — A 53-year-old man is in custody after Salt Lake City police say he allegedly tried to kidnap a 12-year-old girl Tuesday morning as she walked to school.
According to a news release from the Salt Lake City Police Department, dispatch received a call around 10:30 a.m. of an attempted child abduction in the area of Herbert Avenue and Roberta Street.
During the police investigation, law enforcement personnel discovered that the suspect, driving a dark-colored GMC truck, approached the girl as she walked to Liberty Elementary School just after 9:30 a.m.
Police say the suspect allegedly offered the girl money and asked if she needed a ride. The girl then said no and began to walk away. The news release states the suspect then allegedly drove his vehicle in the direction of the girl. It was an attempt to keep her from fleeing, according to the release.
However, the girl was able to escape and reported the incident to school officials.
A short time later, the suspect was arrested by police in the area of 550 W. 200 South. The suspect has been identified as Jose Arquimides Manzanarez Munoz.
He has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of one count of attempted child kidnapping.
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