MOORPARK, Calif. - A 49-year-old San Diego man suspected of trying to lure children walking home from school into his car in the Ventura County city of Moorpark was behind bars Friday.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Sergio Rivas on Thursday afternoon after receiving reports that he had initially tried to get women to take rides in his car, making sexually suggestive comments to at least one of them, and later "appeared to engage in similar activity with children who were walking by his vehicle," said Ventura County sheriff's Sgt. Victor Fazio.

One witness reported seeing children talking to Rivas near a park and then quickly running away from his car, Fazio said.

Deputies searched Rivas' vehicle and seized a red police-type light and ammunition, he said.

Rivas was booked on suspicion of child annoying and was held at the county jail in Ventura in lieu of $10,000 bail, Fazio said.