Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputies are increasing patrols in San Tan Valley after responding to two attempted child abduction reports on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 and also learning of a male possibly impersonating a law enforcement official.
At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputies a received report of a white male in his 20’s driving a red in color SUV type vehicle in the area of Charbary Dr. and Empire, in San Tan Valley, AZ. The reporting party stated his 10-year-old daughter told him that at around 1:30 p.m. she was stopped by a man who asked her if she needed a ride home and then offered her money and candy to get into his vehicle.
As the red SUV began to leave, a white car with a black stripe down the side and a sheriff’s star on the window approached. The male inside of the white vehicle flashed a badge at her and told her to run home, which she did.
While speaking with Deputies, the reporting party also informed them that within the last three weeks he heard of an older male reportedly driving around the Laredo Ranch Community in a white in color passenger car with a black strip and sheriff’s star and showing females a badge in an attempt to get them to stop.
The second case occurred near the corner of Gold Dust Way and Gedona Way, in the Johnson Ranch Community. Another young female, 16-years-old, stated that at around 10:30 p.m., she was sitting on a bench near that intersection and talking on the phone. She further stated while there that a white in color vehicle, possibly a Honda, passenger car, with loud exhaust and unknown license plate drove towards her.
The teenager stated that as the vehicle passed her that it was apparent the unknown male driver was driving slowly and staring at her. She said that she did not ‘feel right’ about it, stood up from the bench and started to walk toward her residence. At that point, the vehicle began to turn around and come towards her. The vehicle came to a stop and she then ran toward her home. After reaching her residence, the vehicle took off.
The male was described as an older white male, 45-50 years old, heavy set, balding and possibly with white colored hair.
Neither of the two females were touched by the suspicious drivers. As a result of these incidents, though, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is stepping-up patrols in the area and will use all resources available while investigating these incidents. PCSO encourages anyone to report suspicious activity to PCSO Communications by contacting 9-1-1.
Sheriff Babeu stated, “Our Deputies are acutely aware of the crime trends in the areas we serve and we are increasing patrols to ensure we are able to respond to potential abductions quickly and our youth remain safe. Those willing to impersonate law enforcement do so in an attempt to use the trust that the public places in our Deputies and we take very seriously the possibility of criminals using that trust to take advantage of victims.”