A 14-year-old girl from Arizona outsmarted a potential predator by giving him her mother’s cell phone number instead of her own. The predator, Isaiah Navarro, unknowingly exchanged graphic text messages with police officers, thinking he was communicating with the girl.
The incident took place in Glendale when the girl crossed the road in front of Navarro’s car. He tried to engage her in conversation and even asked her to get into his car, prompting her to give him her mother’s phone number instead of her own.
Navarro later contacted the mother’s phone, believing it was the teen, but the phone had already been turned over to the police. Detectives then posed as the girl and engaged in a conversation with Navarro, during which he made explicit requests and showed no regard for the victim’s age.
After multiple attempts to meet up with the girl, Navarro was eventually arrested by detectives at a prearranged location. The Glendale Police Department commended the quick thinking and bravery of the 14-year-old for handling the situation effectively.
Navarro was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and attempting to commit sexual conduct with a minor. He is currently held on a $250,000 bond at the Maricopa County Jail.
