Last week in Glendale, police arrested 37-year-old Joseph Leroy Ruiz after he allegedly attempted to kidnap an 11-year-old girl on her way to school. The incident occurred near the intersection of 43rd Avenue and Onyx Road, as reported by 12news.com. Police say the suspect made his move on a Friday morning while the girl was walking towards Sunset Elementary School.
The young student, whose regular commute took a harrowing turn, described how upon exiting her second-story apartment, she encountered Ruiz at the bottom of the stairs. Later, as described in a briefing by Glendale Police, Officer Moroni Mendez, emphasizing the severity of the event, said, "As a father myself, as a parent, it’s very frightening that on her normal walk to school, she was targeted." Mendez's statement, issued to azfamily.com, captures the sentiment that has closely followed the risks our children take simply by going to school.
Authorities were alerted to the situation shortly before the ninth hour by school staff and, aided by a nearby home’s surveillance video, were able to confirm the girl's account. Ruiz, later spotted walking near the apartment complex, was detained upon officers noting that his appearance matched the surveillance footage. Police assert that the girl did not know Ruiz, who resides in the proximity.
Ruiz, with a history of violent offenses including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault charges from 2013, didn't deny the kidnapping charge during police questioning. Instead, he inquired about the length of his expected incarceration, as azfamily.com obtained the details. Without information to the public, Ruiz was released from the Arizona Department of Corrections in 2019 after serving time for the aforementioned assault.
Currently, Ruiz is facing charges of attempted kidnapping and custodial interference. Despite his grave criminal record, detectives think the attempted abduction marks Ruiz’s first such crime since his release. Glendale Police continue to urge vigilance in the community and remind residents of the importance of reporting suspicious activities.
