Sparks Police: Craigslist Ad Ends in Arrest on Attempted Sexual Assault & Kidnapping Charges |

Sparks Police officers say they have arrested a man on several charges including attempted sexual assault, false imprisonment and open/gross lewdness, after a foiled Craigslist deal.

Sparks Police say the victim contacted authorities reporting that an unknown man had answered her Craigslist ad where she was selling miscellaneous children’s clothing. They say the suspect arrived at the victim’s residence earlier this month under the guise of buying items listed in the ad.

"Once he was inside," says Officer Ken Gallop with the Sparks Police Department, "things changed."

Once inside the home, the man began asking abnormal questions and inappropriately touched the victim. Gallop says the questions were very personal and not related to the Craigslist ad. Gallop says she finally convinced the suspect to leave since her child was home.

"The victim in this case had the presence of mind and tried to keep the suspect calm and basically utilized the fact that her daughter was home... and eventually convinced the suspect after things had transpired to leave the residence." says Gallop.

Once gone, she contacted police.

Police gathered information, including positively identifying the suspect as Juan De Jesus Reyes-Palomino, who was later arrested and booked into the Washoe County Jail.

Detectives say they believe Reyes-Palomino answered other Craigslist ads as far back as three months ago. Detectives believe the other possible victims would have been contacted by email, phone or text in response to their ad to sell items. They say those communications may have included Reyes-Palomino asking personal questions not related to the Craigslist ad.

If you have any information that can help investigators, call Secret Witness at 322-4900, or text your tip to 847411. Your information will remain anonymous.

Sparks Police offers the following tips on how to stay safe when meeting someone in person to sell or buy items: