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7-year-old reunites with man who helped stop her abduction from a Macomb County park

‘I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t there’

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – It was an emotional reunion between a 7-year-old girl who was almost kidnapped and the man who helped save her.

On Aug. 13, two children were almost abducted in Macomb County. In both cases, community members intervened after a young girl was forced into a vehicle. The second attack was caught on camera in Clinton River Park North in Sterling Heights.

The girl’s aunt then ran up to the vehicle and began to fight with the man as he attempted to drive off, but another witness intervened and used his truck to block the attempted abductor’s vehicle.

---> ‘She fought for her life’: Aunt helps 7-year-old fight off kidnapper in Macomb County

The witness who intervened, Scott Van-Luven, happened to be a member of Citizens On Patrol for the Sterling Heights Police Department.

Since then, the family has been trying to reconnect with Van-Luven, who they call their superhero.

At the Sterling Heights Community Center on Monday, Aug. 19, they were able to meet for the first time since the attack the week prior.

Aunt Alecia, 7-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Dominic and Olivia’s mom, Coryn, were excited to show their gratitude to the man who stopped the unthinkable.

You can watch the full story in the video player above.

The suspected kidnapper has been charged with attempted unlawful imprisonment, assault and battery, kidnapping and reckless driving.

Read: Man accused of trying to kidnap 2 girls in broad daylight appears in Macomb County courts


About the Author
Nick Monacelli headshot

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.

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