Sterling Heights arrested a 23-year-old man after he attempted to kidnap a little girl at a park. This is the second kidnapping attempt by the suspect.
On Monday afternoon Sterling Heights Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a disturbance at Riverland Park.
A Sterling Heights resident, who is part of the Citizens On Patrol program, was in the area and witnessed the unfolding situation. Acting quickly, the citizen intervened, pulling the victim out of the car before further harm could be done.
Upon arrival, officers discovered that the suspect, a 23-year-old man from Shelby Township, had attempted to kidnap a 7-year-old girl. The suspect was placed under arrest, and the incident is now under investigation.
It was later revealed that the suspect was also wanted for a previous attempted kidnapping in Clinton Township earlier in the day. The Clinton Township Police Department is pursuing charges related to that incident as well, police said.
“Thanks to the outstanding actions of the 7-year-old’s aunt, our volunteer citizen, and the swift response of our officers, a very dangerous suspect was taken off the streets, and a young girl was saved from further harm,” said a spokesperson for the Sterling Heights Police Department. “We will pursue every possible felony charge the law allows against this individual.”