A 38-year-old man approached an 11-year-old girl picking blackberries near her home in Oregon and lured her away for hours, police said.
Her parents reported her missing after 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, the Salem Police Department said in a news release.
The girl’s father told KOIN she had been picking blackberries when the man showed up on his bike and asked her if she wanted to see “his pretty rocks and gems and crystal.”
Once her family realized she was gone, they called authorities, and officers scoured the area for her, using a police dog to pick up on her scent, police said.
Hours later, at about 8:30 p.m., a neighbor, also looking for the girl, flagged police down and reported seeing “suspicious activity,” authorities said.
Elijah Galaviz Arce was found with the girl in a “secluded area covered by shrubbery,” police said.
He was arrested on charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree attempted rape and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance to a minor.
“Although the child was physically uninjured, the circumstances of the case are concerning,” Deputy Chief Debra Aguilar said in the release.
Arce has a criminal history, including previous sexual offenses, police said.
“The child was found thanks to a concerned community member,” Aguilar said. “Neighbors in the area were instrumental. They helped by providing home security footage, as well as taking the time to walk their blocks to look for her.”
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