Kidnapping suspect found with 14-year-old runaway from Cottonwood Heights

OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — Police have arrested a man in connection with a 14-year-old runaway from Cottonwood Heights Tuesday.

Officers with the Ogden Police Department arrested Jose Rodriguez Cid, 21, on charges of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, among others.

According to documents, Rodriguez-Cid was found with the underaged female victim in his car near the 800 block of Melody Lane in Ogden. The victim was found to be a runaway from Cottonwood Heights and “was not supposed to be with Jose.”

Police say he admitted to driving the girl to Ogden against her father’s wishes and to throwing his phone out of the window somewhere between Lagoon and South Ogden in an effort to avoid being tracked.

Officers also claim Rodriguez-Cid admitted to possessing Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM).

Documents show texts between the victim’s father and the suspect in which the father asks her to come home and to get help.

On top of a kidnapping charge, Rodriguez-Cid may also face a third-degree felony charge for unlawful sexual activity with a minor along with a misdemeanor charge for unlawful kissing of a minor.