Illegal immigrant charged with attempted kidnapping in Slapout

A Hispanic man deported five times in five years is now accused of trying to kidnap a juvenile female in Holtville.

An unusual encounter in The Boys Store parking lot on New Year’s Eve was soon reported to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office by the mother of a 17-year-old juvenile. 

“She was in the parking lot gathering a buggy when a Black Mitsubishi pulled up and the driver got out,” Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said. “He approached the girl and tried to get her to look at his cell phone. It said something along the lines of offering her $200 to get in the SUV.”

Franklin said the teen was trying to ease away from the situation when a driver pulled in noticing something was off.

“The girl was a little shaken and the scene didn’t make sense to the driver,” Franklin said. “The driver approached the Hispanic male who then got in the SUV and left.”

Franklin said deputies took a report and the owner of The Boys Store forwarded video footage of the parking lot to investigators. 

“They saw the SUV and the man,” Franklin said. “They were able to get a tag number.”

Franklin said the Texas tag was registered to a Hispanic female and the department issued a BOLO for the vehicle with a male Hispanic driver. 

The vehicle was stopped Friday afternoon in Clanton and ECSO deputies went to Chilton County. Yordy Noe Centeno-Melchor, 31, was driving. 

“The vehicle and the man matched the video and descriptions to a tee,” Franklin said. “He admitted to being in The Boys Store parking lot. He said he was there to inquire about fireworks.”

Franklin said Centeno-Melchor was taken to the Elmore County jail Friday afternoon and placed on a 48-hour investigative hold and investigators would have second-degree attempted kidnapping warrants for his arrest sometime Saturday.

While waiting for the arrest warrants, ECSO investigators contacted ICE where they learned a man by the same name and description has been deported five times from the U.S. since 2019.

“We are hoping to learn the circumstances surrounding those deportations,” Franklin said. “They will also verify who he says he is through fingerprints. We work well with ICE.”

Franklin said investigators have already used law enforcement databases to determine Centeno-Melchor has traveled several times between Texas and Elmore, Chilton and Shelby counties. Franklin said Centeno-Melchor said he was currently living in a trailer in Elmore County.

Franklin said Elmore County doesn’t see many incidents like this.

“We don’t want to see it again,” Franklin said. “I hope we don’t see more. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings. In a parking lot, have your keys ready before you get to the car and get in immediately, especially females.”