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Man Accused Of Trying To Kidnap 10-Year-Old Girl With Candy Lure

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a man tried to kidnap a 10-year-old girl Thursday in Rancho Cucamonga using the promise of candy to get her to go with him.

Officials said Richard Pacheco, 37, attempted to talk to Makayla Mendez and lure her with candy just after noon in the 8800 block of Grove Avenue.

"He said, 'Come over here right now. I have something for you.' And I got really scared," Mendez told CBS2's Tom Wait. "I thought I was going to die."

Mendez refused the offer of candy and ran away, said authorities. Even after she escaped, however, the suspect allegedly didn't give up.

"It's scary because he ran out right after her and was waiting for her to come back outside," Mendez's mother said.

Earlier, detectives said Pachecho went to the apartment complex's leasing office and inquired about renting an apartment.

The leasing agent said Pachecho -- a resident of Upland -- asked to use the facilities and when he left, the agent found a pair of women's undergarments on the floor.

Moments later, authorities said Pacheco exhibited more strange behavior when he wouldn't let a tenant close their door. When Pachecho placed his hand on the door jam, the tenant closed the door on his hand.

It's still unclear why Pachecho was in the apartment complex. Wait reports that other neighbors got wind of what was going on and chased him away as they called authorities.

"He ran to the back, jumped over the wall, and he came back and that's when the cops came," Brenda Palmer, a neighbor, said.

Authorities said they found Pacheco hiding near railroad tracks, naked, and masturbating. Pacheco was taken into custody without incident.

Pacheco was booked at West Valley Detention Center for attempted kidnapping. He is being held on $125,000 bail.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Station at (909) 477-2800.

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