Sheriff deputies looking for suspect in attempted kidnapping

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report of an attempted kidnapping Monday night that took place near May Avenue and 8th Street.

According to Capt. Eben Bratcher of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, a 17-year-old juvenile was walking her sister, age 6, home from the bus stop at about 5:45 p.m. when the incident took place. May Avenue and 8th Street is about halfway between Avenues B and C.

Bratcher said the juvenile victims reported that the suspect approached them and attempted to pull the 6-year-old away from her older sister. The suspect ran off, however, after the 17-year-old hit the suspect in the face with her keys.

“He ran off holding his face in his hands,” Bratcher said. “The girl hitting him in the face with her keys was a great reaction.”

The suspect is described as a male in his mid-20s to early 30s with blond hair, blue eyes, between 5’10” and 6’01” weighing approximately 175 to 200 pounds. Bratcher added that it is not known if the suspect may have left the area in a vehicle.

“Apparently he just walked up to them,” Bratcher said. “Either there wasn’t a vehicle, or they didn’t notice one, which is understandable given the situation.”

The suspect also has a tattoo on his left arm, just above or below the elbow, on the inside of his forearm, possibly of a bird or a bat.  

“The girls said the tattoo was something with wings,” Bratcher said.

Neither of the girls were injured in the attack. Bratcher urges parents to keep an eye on their children. The public is also being asked to contact the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 783-4427 with any information regarding this case.  

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.