Spain / Story
Girl’s drawing helps Guardia Civil identify Borja suspect
A man is under investigation over an alleged attempt to take the child away, after her picture helped officers trace a suspect.
The Guardia Civil is investigating a 48-year-old man over an alleged illegal detention offence in Borja, Zaragoza province. The case follows an incident involving an eight-year-old girl around midday on 13 October.
Investigators say the man greeted the child in the entrance to her building. He then allegedly offered her sweets and tried to take her to a flat in the same entrance. Reports say he took hold of her arm and pulled her.
The girl managed to break free and ran home. The man allegedly warned that he would return if she told her parents. Her father reported the incident to the Guardia Civil in mid-October.
Drawing guided the search
The child later drew the person she remembered. Her picture showed details of tattoos on his arms and a scar on his face. She also described his clothes and said she had seen him near a local park before.
Guardia Civil units in Tarazona led the inquiry. Officers made checks around Borja and used the girl’s account as a visual guide. The force said the tattoos, scar and clothes in her description matched the man they found.
The Guardia Civil located the suspect on 30 October. He lives in a town near Borja. His name has not been made public, and he remains a suspect rather than a convicted person.
Reports differ on his legal status
Europa Press, El Correo and elDiario.es say the man was placed under investigation for the alleged offence. El Mundo says officers arrested him. La Vanguardia also reports an arrest on 30 October and says he later gave evidence in court.
Guardia Civil sources told La Vanguardia that he was released with charges on Thursday. They also said he had no criminal record. The same sources said officers knew of no other complaints or alerts about similar events in the area.
The inquiry concerns an allegation and no court has ruled on the case. The reports do not include any comment from the suspect or a lawyer acting for him.
Sources: ABC, Europa Press, El Correo, elDiario.es, El Mundo and La Vanguardia
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ARTICLE SOURCES
Sources and corrections
- ABC (opens in a new tab)
- El Mundo (opens in a new tab)
- El Correo (opens in a new tab)
- Europa Press (opens in a new tab)
- La Vanguardia (opens in a new tab)
- elDiario.es (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of the Interior (Balance de Criminalidad) (opens in a new tab)
