Arizona Man Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping of 11-Year-Old Girl

Joseph Ruiz, with a history of violence, allegedly tried to abduct a girl on her way to school, raising safety concerns among parents.

Joseph Ruiz, a 37-year-old man from Glendale, Arizona, was arrested on charges of attempted kidnapping and custodial interference after allegedly trying to abduct an 11-year-old girl on her way to school.
Security camera footage shows Ruiz driving up to the girl in a small white vehicle, exiting the vehicle, and attempting to grab her. The girl managed to escape and ran towards a group of friends.
Ruiz, who has a history of violence and was previously convicted of aggravated assault for stabbing his mother in the neck, lived in the same apartment complex as the girl, with his unit only 130 feet away.
Upon his arrest, police found a pair of binoculars in Ruiz's car. His mother, who shared the apartment with him, reported that he had been acting strange on the day of the incident.
Following the incident, the girl's school, Sunset Elementary, sent a letter to parents, raising concerns about the safety of their children.