ST. GEORGE – A 52-year-old man was arrested by the St. George Police Department on Dec. 21, on counts of kidnap of a child, unlawful control of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for an officer, interfering with an arrest, and a warrant.
The man’s daughter, 24, was arrested for driving under the influence, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The SGPD received a call just after 11 p.m. concerning a suspicious incident at 35 W. 300 S. in St. George. It was reported that an unknown male started to drive off with an 11-year-old child. The 11-year-old female was not related to the male.
A neighbor of the male suspect was being dropped off by a friend and her friend’s 11-year-old daughter. The 11-year-old was left in the vehicle while the neighbor and her friend went inside for a brief moment. The male suspect walked across the road and got into the vehicle in the driver’s seat.
When he closed the door the 11-year-old asked who he was and what he was doing. The Man then started to back the car away from the residence. The 11-year-old girl screamed and the make suspect stopped and got out of the car.
The girl immediately locked the doors and started honking the horn. The girl’s mother came out and observed the male suspect standing by the car and then watched as he ran toward his residence.
The man ran to the driveway of his residence where his daughter, was and got in her vehicle. Officers made contact with the woman and noticed the male suspect whose description matched the male seen running from the victim’s location.
The man than exited the vehicle and started to walk toward his residence. Officers commanded him to stop at which time he started to run. Officers caught the man and placed him in custody. He continued to refuse to cooperate and comply after being taken into custody.
When officers spoke with the man’s daughter, she showed signs of being on a controlled substance. She had taken various prescriptions. The woman was given standard field sobriety tests and failed. She was arrested for DUI and is in no way connected to the allegedly kidnapping attempt.
The man was taken to the SGPD for questioning.
The motives behind the male suspect’s actions remain unclear, but it is believed that controlled substances were a contributing factor.
* Persons accused are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
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