By james art Police in Arizona have praised a teenage girl for her quick wits that helped land a would-be sex predator behind bars.
The 14-year-old girl was walking home from school on Oct. 16 when Isaiah Navarro, 37, approached her, according to a statement from the Glendale Police Department.
“Navarro arrived on scene, but instead of the 14-year-old young lady, Navarro was met with handcuffs and an arrest.”
Police obtained Ring’s security video, which shows the teenager crossing the street in a residential neighborhood when Navarro was in his car and struck up a conversation with the girl.
The teenager told police that Navarro asked her where the nearest McDonald’s was. She gave him an answer.
Then the man allegedly asked for the girl’s phone number. The quick-witted teenager presciently provided her mother’s cell phone number instead of her own.
After the teenager told her mother what had happened, the mother called law enforcement.
Navarro allegedly began texting the number — not knowing he was talking to detectives, not the 14-year-old girl.
Glendale detectives identified themselves as the juvenile girl and allegedly communicated with the suspect via text messages from the mother’s cell phone.
Police shared alleged screenshots of the text message conversation.
When asked how old he was, Navarro said he was 37 years old.
He then asked, “Is that okay?”
The detectives replied, “I’m a minor.”
Police allegedly wrote to the man: “My mother will be so angry and so will my father. I’m only 14.”
Navarro reportedly replied, “Maybe one day. Can you save the conversation between me and you?’
Navarro allegedly asked for pictures of the 14-year-old girl.
“The conversation became increasingly graphic, with Navarro describing and asking about specific sexual acts without any regard for the victim’s age,” police said.
Police added that Navarro “invited the victim to perform sexual acts with him.”
Navarro repeatedly asked to meet the girl and reportedly called the number up to 30 times.
Detectives set up a meeting place and time, and Navarro allegedly went there a few hours later.
“Navarro arrived on scene, but instead of the 14-year-old young lady, Navarro was met with several handcuffs and was arrested,” police said.
Navarro was arrested at the scene. The accused pedophile is being held in the Maricopa County Jail and faces charges of enticing a minor for sexual exploitation and attempting to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.
He is being held on $250,000 bond.
“Here is a prime example of a young lady who thought quickly and did the right thing,” police said. “We at the Glendale Police Department applaud this young lady for her courage and smart thinking!”
Police are asking anyone who may have had a similar encounter with the suspect to contact detectives at 623-930-3000.
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