Police say Victor Perez is a hero.

Victor Perez is thankful he was out on the street Tuesday morning in time to spot an 8-year-old California girl who was abducted Monday night.

Thanks to Perez and another "Good Samaritan," police in Fresno said the little girl has been recovered and her suspected kidnapper arrested less than 24 hours after she disappeared.

Police in Fresno said gang member Gregorio Gonzalez approached a group of children playing in front of an apartment complex and forced the girl into his pickup truck. He then took her to a wooded area near a canal and sexually assaulted her, police said.

Authorities released a description of the truck, which Perez saw on the evening news, according to CNN affiliate KFSN. He was driving about a mile from the girl's home around 6:40 the next morning when he saw a truck matching the description, he said.

He said he pulled in front of the suspect's vehicle in an attempt to detain him.

"He goes no, my truck's messing up, I need to leave," Perez told ABC30, quoting the driver.

He didn't see anyone else in the car until he cut off the vehicle a second time, and a girl's head popped up, he said.

"The little girl stuck her head out and that's when I said, OK, that ain't your girl, because he was hiding her, like pushing her head down," Perez said.

"I thank God that he put me here to help out that little girl. I got kids out there and nephews and nieces and I wouldn't want nobody to do this to my family."

FULL STORY.