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TAYLORSVILLE — A man who police say tried to lure a young girl walking home from school into his vehicle has been arrested for investigation of attempted child kidnapping.
Trong Viet Pham, 54, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday.
Taylorsville police say an 11-year-old girl was walking home from school on Monday in her gated community near 6000 South and 1500 West when Pham tried to convince her to get into his car.
"(She) stated that the male offered her a fruit and she refused the fruit. The male then asked the juvenile to get in his vehicle so he could drive her home. The male asked her multiple times to get in his vehicle before the juvenile left and called her dad," according to a police booking affidavit.
Police say Pham lives in the basement of one of the homes in the same complex, but the girl did not know him and was "fearful" because of his actions.
On Tuesday, with police stationed nearby in case Pham was spotted again as the girl walked home from school, officers received a call that his vehicle was seen in the complex.
Officers went to his residence to question him. Pham initially stated he had been shopping on Monday until the evening hours, according to the affidavit.
"Pham changed his statement that he and his wife were back and forth all day. Pham stated that he remembered the little girl. Pham stated that he waved at her and offered her candy. I asked Pham about detaining her and offering her a ride and asking her to get in his vehicle," the affidavit states, adding that Pham said he is religious and "doesn't do stuff like that."
Pham was then placed under arrest and accused of trying to detain the girl against her will.
