PHOENIX — A young girl fought off an attacker at a north Phoenix apartment complex gym and DNA tests helped find the suspect.
Phoenix police report that on July 7, they responded to an apartment complex near 19th and Dunlap avenues for a reported kidnapping and child abuse call.
The 9-year-old girl reported to police that she was going to a friend's apartment unit when she was grabbed near the apartment complex gym. The suspect, later identified as William Buford, allegedly took the girl into the women's restroom in the gym and locked the door.
According to police, Buford pushed her down, laid on her, and covered her mouth with his hands. The girl fought back, scratching Buford on his face, chest, and shoulder.
He then left the area.
DNA found under the girl's fingernails was linked to Buford on July 13. Police located and arrested him two days later.
Upon his arrest, Burford reportedly told police that he hands out water and money to people in the neighborhood and he caught the girl taking more than one water bottle. When he took the bottle back from her, she scratched him.
Buford is being held on a $250,000 bond for kidnapping, child abuse, and aggravated assault.
