James Alvin Duke
Police arrested a registered sex offender who tried to nab an 18-year-old girl while she tended animals at Gilbert High School on Thursday.
Authorities said James Alvin Duke, 43, tried to abduct a girl who was grooming animals that are housed at the school around 6 p.m. on Thursday. According to reports the girl stabbed Duke in the chest with her keys after she placed them defensively in her hand as she him approaching.
Police said Duke continued to wrestle with the girl until she activated the “panic car alarm”. Duke fled the scene on foot, left his own car, and stole a semi tractor trailer truck from 1200 W. Sam Pedro in Gilbert, which was later recovered in Phoenix.
Gilbert detectives arrested Duke as he was attempting to leave the Valley around 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Duke, a registered sex offender, was arrested and transported to Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail on suspicion of attempted sexual assault, theft of means of transportation, and attempted kidnapping.
Smart girl. This is why self defense lessons pay off. She was aware, prepared to use force, and knew how to draw attention to herself.
First of all, great job to the student for noticing someone suspicious and preparing herself for it. Secondly, great job to the police for apprehending the suspect. This could have been a tragic event, but due to her quick thinking she averted his intended acts. I hope she and her family heal from this ordeal quickly.
However, shame on Eddie Trevizo for publishing such a poorly written article. Aren’t there editors proof reading for grammatical and spelling errors in newspaper articles anymore? Or could it be that they are just as poorly structured in the art of writing as their contributing reporters - I presume it no longer requires an major in English writing to become a writer. Shame.
Kudos to the student - who was just tending horses; horses that are apparently only housed at the school around 6 PM.