STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A police volunteer rescued a 7-year-old girl from being kidnapped at Riverland Park in Sterling Heights.
The incident occurred on Tuesday (Aug. 13) at 2:20 p.m. when the child with her aunt called out for help.
Officials say the citizen witnessed the altercation as a 23-year-old man from Shelby Township tried to force the child into his car.
The citizen, who happens to be a member of the police department’s “Citizens On Patrol,” ran toward the man’s car, pulled him from the vehicle, and held him down until police arrived.
Officials said when they arrived, they discovered that the child was almost abducted.
“Due to the outstanding job by the aunt of the 7-year-old, our volunteer citizen, and the officers who arrived quickly on the scene, a very dangerous suspect was taken off the street, and a 7-year-old girl was saved from being further harmed,” said Sterling Heights police.
Unbeknownst to our officers, the 23-year-old man was wanted for a previous attempted kidnapping in Clinton Township earlier in the day involving a 15-year-old girl.
Officials say the teen was able to fight the man off, helping her escape the abduction.
Clinton Township Police Department is pursuing charges for that incident as well.
“We will pursue every possible felony charge the law will allow against this individual,” Sterling Heights police said.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Sterling Heights Investigations Bureau.