A passerby helped rescue a teenage girl in Palmdale after she was taken against her will behind a church allegedly by a paroled rapist Friday morning, authorities said.
Richard Stine, 39, is suspected of kidnapping a 17-year-old girl who flagged down a concerned citizen just in time before she was pulled behind a church and hidden from view, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Palmdale Station.
Stine allegedly approached the girl from behind and pushed an object into her back as she was walking eastbound on Palmdale Boulevard near 30th Street East about 8:10 a.m. Authorities said Stine told the girl to keep walking or he would shoot her.
As she was being dragged across the street, the girl waved her arms, trying to get the attention of passersby, sheriff's officials said.
A concerned citizen called 911 after they saw the girl, who by now had been taken behind a church and out of public view, sheriff’s officials said.
Lights flashing and sirens blaring, deputies arrived to the scene and rescued the teen, who was not hurt. Stine surrendered without incident.
A registered sex offender, Stine is on parole for forcible rape and wears an ankle monitor, officials said.
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Stine was booked for kidnapping with the intent to rape. He is being held on $100,000 bail as well as a parole hold, and is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 5 at the Antelope Valley Courthouse.
Anyone with information about this attack is asked to call the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station at 661-272-2400. Tips can be left anonymously by calling 800-222-8477, texting "TIPLA" plus a tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting http://lacrimestoppers.org
