California

Sex Offender Tries to Lure 12-Year-Old Into Car: Police

A 68-year-old registered sex offender was arrested when an off-duty officer saw him driving slowly alongside a 12-year-old girl walking in Temecula, authorities said Saturday.

The officer saw the man, identified as Robert Francis Baker of Hemet, driving slowly next to the girl about 3:50 p.m. Friday at Pauba Road and Linfield Way, said Sgt. Steve Fredericks of the Temecula Police. The officer intervened.

Officers called to the scene discovered Baker was a registered sex offender in California, and determined he was trying to lure the girl into his vehicle, Fredericks said.

Baker was not on active probation or parole at the time of the incident, the sergeant said. He was booked into the Southwest Detention Center for suspicion of annoying or molesting a child. Bail was set at $1.5 million.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call Fredericks at (951) 696-3000.

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