Kidnapping Attempt Ends in PD Parking Lot

A Cathedral City man is in jail this morning after police broke up a kidnapping attempt in a Palm Desert parking lot. 

Authorities say that 25-year-old Florentino Perez was driving south on Monterey Avenue at approximately 7:15 Wednesday night, when Sheriffs deputies noticed a woman screaming for help from the passneger window of Perez’ car. 

Deputies pulled the car over into the Costco Parking lot, where the woman ran from the vehicle, saying she had been kidnapped by her husband and that her year-old son was still in the car.  

When Perez refused to exit the vehicle, officers broke windows on both the driver and passenger sides to remove the child before sending in a police dog.

The dog overpowered Perez, biting him on the upper arm.  Deputies were then able to arrest Perez, who was transported to a local hospital. 

Perez is currently in Indio Jail, charged with the felony charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, resisting officers and violating his probation.