Attempt kidnapping of 15-year old girl in Palmdale

Attempt kidnapping of 15-year old girl in Palmdale. Suspect arrested by off-duty LASD deputy


A 50-year man with a makeshift bed in his car was charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted child molesting Tuesday.

Suspect Tracy Jones, an African-American man from Apple Valley, was arrested Christmas Eve afternoon in Palmdale after he was seen by an off-duty sheriff's deputy and the deputy's wife driving on the 39000 block of Summerwind Drive.  He was seen driving slowly beside a teenage girl who was walking on the sidewalk.

The teenager appeared to be frightened, so the deputy continued to follow and observe the situation.  The deputy then drove ahead of the suspect’s vehicle and pulled over in a position which would require the girl to walk past his own vehicle.  As she did so, he identified himself, displaying his sheriff's department badge and credentials, and asked if there was a problem.

The 15-year old girl said the suspect first tried to talk her into getting into his car, and then began to yell at her in an intimidating manner and order her to get into the car.  When she continued to refuse, he offered to pay her money for specified lewd acts.

The suspect drove from the location and was followed by the deputy.  The suspect pulled over several blocks later and began to approach the deputy.  The deputy showed him his sheriff's deputy badge and identification and attempted to detain him.  The suspect walked back to his vehicle and retrieved a small baggie of marijuana which he threw away a distance from the car.  He then followed the deputy’s orders and waited for uniformed Palmdale Sheriff's Station deputies to arrive.

After interviewing the off-duty deputy, victim and suspect, Palmdale deputies arrested the suspect for attempted kidnapping and booked him at the Palmdale Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A makeshift bed was found in the suspect’s vehicle and the suspect was in possession of several Viagra pills.

He is being held in lieu of $120,000 bail. The suspect's next court date is January 10, 2011.


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Lieutenant K.F.Wright
Palmdale Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(661) 272-2400



Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
www.lasd.org