Parents in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles say they remain on edge after a suspect sexually assaulted and attempted to kidnap an 11-year-old girl earlier this week.
Safety concerns have been raised due to an incident captured on Ring video around 3:15 p.m. Monday as a girl was walking near M Street and Gulf Avenue.
A male suspect approached the victim from behind, fondled her breasts and attempted to take her from the area, the Los Angeles Police Department stated.
A resident can be heard on the Ring video screaming “Hey, leave her alone!” The woman, who did not want to be identified, said that the suspect tried to tell her that the victim was his niece.
“I knew better,” she said. “Then, by the time I decided to come out, the little girl was gone.”
On Thursday, LAPD confirmed the suspect, Jose Jaime, 30, of Hawthorne, was arrested in the incident.
He was taken into custody for aggravated kidnapping and is being held on $1 million bail. A search warrant was also served at his home.
The suspect was driving a gray Nissan Kicks with a spare tire on the rear passenger side at the time of the incident.
Anyone with additional information on the case is asked to call Harbor Area detectives at 310-726-7900. The public can also call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Via KTLA