Terrifying moment suspect, 37, tries to grab an Arizona 5th-grader in broad daylight and kidnap her as she walked to school

Frightening footage shows how a walk to school turned terrifying for one fifth-grade student – when she was nearly kidnapped in broad daylight by a suspect who is now behind bars.

The attempted kidnapping happened just before 8am Friday in Glendale, Arizona, and saw 37-year-old Joseph Ruiz taken into custody on kidnapping and custodial interference charges.

The clip beings with the accused creep’s silver sedan apparently waiting for the young girl, after she left her family’s apartment at 43rd Avenue and Onyx Avenue.

That’s when cops say Ruiz gets out of the car and tries to grab her, but she is able to run off. 

After she gets away, neighbors say three students, noticing she was in distress, were able to come to her aid – as the man believed to be Ruiz is seen sulking back to his car, before eventually being cuffed.

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‘No!’ the girl can be heard shouting as the man chased her, according to a KPHO reporter who viewed the raw video captured by a neighbor’s surveillance camera.

Glendale cops responded to the call from the girl and obtained the neighbor’s security footage, which showed the man make a U-turn before hopping out of his car, and chasing the girl a short way.

The girl – who has not been named – afterwards told officers ‘that [the] unknown adult male had attempted to grab her as she walked to school,’ cops said – before revealing Ruiz’s criminal history.

Police in the small city outside of Phoenix said they proceeded to the ID the vehicle and the suspect – tracking him down elsewhere in the city later in the day.

‘I would note that he has a history of violence,’ said the state’s attorney in Ruiz’s court appearance video, according to KPHO.

‘He was convicted of an aggravated assault, a class 3 dangerous felony,’ the official added – before stating the charge came ‘after [Ruiz] stabbed his mother in the neck.

A date for the offense was not immediately provided – but cops did say they believe the girl caught the suspect’s attention when she left her apartment.

As Ruiz remained jailed Sunday, cops said more information would be coming to light Monday.

In the meantime, residents are hailing three other minors who had been in the area that morning for their quick-thinking, after they noticed the would-be victim in need of aid, and used their bodies to huddle around her.

‘They hid her because the man was chasing her,’ said Amcy Borquez, whose younger sister and and two younger cousins are seen helping the girl in another clip taken by a neighbor’s security camera.

‘I think they were very brave for their age,” said Borquez, adding that the trio were friends with the young girl.

‘I’m telling them all day, like you’re heroes.’

Of cops’ revelation the victim had noticed the suspect following her from the time she left her apartment, the Glendale resident added: ‘I told my mom like I don’t care if I get late for my school, I’m going to walk them every day.’

As of Sunday, the child has yet to be identified, but in a note to parents at nearby Sunset Elementary, district officials warned students to stay alert and off their cell phones when walking to and from campus.

‘Travel to and from school in groups. DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE,’ the bulletin on Friday warned. 

Parents in the normally safe neighborhood, meanwhile, are fearing for their children’s safety, including Nayeli Martinez, whose home’s security camera captured the failed abduction. 

In an emotional interview, she revealed her 11-year-old son attends school with the victim.

‘It’s very scary knowing that it happened right in front of my house, knowing that my kid, my son goes to that school,’ said Martinez of her son, Nico,

‘It gave me goosebumps.’

Cops, as of Sunday, are still vetting the attempted abduction. In a statement, they said more information would be provided about their probe on Monday. A bail amount for Ruiz was not immediately provided.

In his own statement, Nico also expressed awe over the incident.

‘Thank God I’m safe,’ the child said.