Schools

Person of Interest Held In Possible Student Abduction Attempts

Oak Park police credit passing motorists with stopping two possible abduction attempts of Oak Park students earlier today.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with new information from police. Click here to read: Charges Brought Against Maywood Man in Child Abduction Attempts

Oak Park police have reported that they are holding a suspect in connection with recent reports that students in Oak Park have been followed in the last 24 hours in possible abduction attempts.

In one attempt, a teen-age girl bit a man and screamed as he grabbed her. In another, a middle-school student screamed and caught the attention of others nearby.

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Officially designated a "person of interest," police said they would consult with the Cook County State's Attorney to review their evidence.

Police said they took the suspect into custody today around 9 a.m. on Madison Street in River Forest after his vehicle was seen driving erratically by a Maywood police officer, who then alerted Oak Park police.

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Descriptions of the man's vehicle provided by victims and witnesses gave police information to alert neighboring departments.

Police are also crediting passing motorists in a statement today, and said they may have helped thwart two abduction attempts and helped lead police to a quick apprehension of the suspect.

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citing student safety, and alerted parents to three reports of students being followed in the last 24 hours in a letter and voicemail message.

The first report of a man following students came to police Tuesday evening. An Oak Park and River Forest High School student who left the campus in the evening and walked from Lake Street to Ridgeland Avenue and down to Percy Julian Middle School reported being followed along the way. An employee at Percy Julian called police when they noticed the student was being followed, according to the letter from OPRF officials.

Two more incidents were reported this morning, and involved another OPRF student and a student of Brooks Middle School, at 8:15 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. respectively.

The first incident today occurred in the 100 block of south Taylor Avenue, police said. A 16-year-old high school student told police she was approached by the suspect, who put his arms around her and started pulling her. The victim screamed, bit his finger and pulled away. A passing motorist stopped and the suspect released the girl and walked away.

A second report occurred in the 700 block of Home Avenue a short time later. The 13-year-old victim told police she was walking to Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave., when a man came up behind her and put his hand over her mouth. The victim screamed and ran towards a passing motorist as the suspect fled.

Police said they believe there is no longer any danger to students, but will be stepping up patrols around the area's schools and along walking routes to be safe.

As the man being held by police is still a suspect, police have not released any further information him, or released a description at this point.

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