Hides at the airport
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A woman reported a man attempted to kidnap her on Sunday as she was jogging in the area of Airport Road and N. Calle Mesa Verde.
Deputies from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office responded the the women’s call for assistance at about 5:54 p.m. Upon arrival, the woman said a man, apparently in his 50s and possibly Hispanic, attempted to grab her while she was jogging. She said the man was driving a cream-colored Ford SUV.
According to the woman, the incident began while she was jogging eastbound past Drylake Road. She noticed the male seated in his vehicle with the driver’s side window down, waving his arm across the hood, possibly to get her attention. She continued jogging and contacted her husband, but did not engage with the individual. The vehicle then drove eastbound on Airport Road.
Approximately 10 minutes later, the same male and vehicle approached her again. Alarmed, the woman detoured onto a dirt path, but the vehicle followed. She then screamed, called 911, and fled to the nearby Safford Regional Airport, where she hid. She believes the suspect drove westbound after the encounter.
Safford Police and county deputies conducted an extensive search of the area, traveling along Sanchez Road and surrounding roads, but no vehicle matching the description was located. Patrols continued in the area, but no further leads were found.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident or a cream-colored Ford SUV in the area to come forward. The investigation remains ongoing.
