A man was arrested Saturday in Mesa on suspicion of grabbing a 16-year-old girl and trying to force her to the ground while asking her how much she charges for sex.
Court records show Jesus Perez Vargas, a 19-year-old Mexican national, was arrested on suspicion of two counts attempted sexual assault and one count criminal trespass.
The 16-year-old victim and her 14-year-old cousin were walking to their house about 9 a.m. when they saw a man jump a fence and follow them, records show. Suddenly the man began to run toward the girls and they tried to run away, but the man caught the older girl and forced her to the ground and in Spanish asked “how much?”
The girl answered in Spanish that she isn’t a prostitute and her cousin tried to help her, but was also chased and pushed by the man, records show.
Both girls ran to a home and knocked on the door screaming for help. The homeowners allowed the girls into their house and then found the suspect on their roof.
Records show the suspect tried to run away, but was caught nearby.
Vargas told police he had seen another man following the girls and was trying to see what was wrong. He also admitted to climbing on top of the house, records show.
The records do not state where in Mesa this occurred.
