Ohio man snatched child while she was waiting for the school bus: police
An Ohio man attempted to kidnap a girl while she was waiting at the bus stop to go to school, but her courage and quick thinking saved her life. (Strongsville Police Department)
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STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (WKRC) – An Ohio man allegedly attempted to kidnap a girl while she was waiting at the bus stop to go to school, but her courage and quick thinking saved her life.
Officers were dispatched to a residence at 6:40 a.m. on Sept. 5 after receiving a report from a 15-year-old that “she was approached and grabbed by an adult male subject while she was standing near the road waiting for a school bus,” according to a press release. “The girl pulled away from the man and ran back into her residence.”
Using unspecified evidence, officers reportedly traced the suspect to a nearby home and identified him as 27-year-old Dominic Anthony Sacco.
Other students in the area voiced their concerns about the attempted abduction.
“Is some grown man going to come after me and pull me by my backpack and pull me? Like it’s scary,” one child said. “If I am going on a bike ride, if I’m going on a walk, is the same thing going to happen to me?”
The superintendent of the Strongsville School District, Dr. Cameron M. Ryba, also released a statement to encourage parents to be cautious and aware of their children.
“As a community, we will continue working together to ensure this remains an isolated incident,” Ryba said. “Please take a moment to talk with your children, not to create fear, but to help them build awareness and confidence about what to do if they ever feel unsafe.”
Sacco was charged with abduction.
Strongsville teen waiting for school bus grabbed in abduction attempt; man arrested
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STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (WOIO) – A 27-year-old man is in custody after attempting to abduct a 15-year-old girl early Friday morning.
According to a release from Strongsville Police, officers responded to Fair Road around 6:40 a.m. after a 15-year-old girl reported she was approached and grabbed by a man while waiting for the school bus.
The girl pulled away and ran back into her house, according to the release.
Police said after an on-scene investigation, officers found a man at a home about a quarter mile from the incident.
Officers added that Dominic Anthony Sacco, 27, was positively identified as the man who tried to grab the girl.
Sacco was arrested and is currently being held at the Strongsville Police Department, facing abduction charges.
“This morning, on Fair Road, a Strongsville High School student experienced a serious safety situation when a 27-year-old man approached and grabbed her. The student acted quickly to get away, returned safely to her home, and called the police. Thanks to her courage and the swift response of the Strongsville Police Department, the man was identified and arrested.
As both a Superintendent and a father, I am deeply concerned by this incident. I am extremely grateful for the student’s strength in protecting herself and for the immediate actions of the Strongsville Police Department to ensure her safety and to quickly arrest this individual.
As a community, we will continue working together to ensure this remains an isolated incident. Please take a moment to talk with your children, not to create fear, but to help them build awareness and confidence about what to do if they ever feel unsafe. We will remain in close partnership with the Strongsville Police Department and will share updates, resources, and any additional safety measures as more information becomes available. Together, we remain committed to providing a safe environment for all of our students.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can provide any support to your children or your family at this time.”
Alton girl’s quick thinking wards off attempted abduction at bus stop, police say; suspect sought
Prosecutors charged Michael J. Roberts, 44, with felony child abduction. He was not in custody as of Thursday.
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Author: Kelsi Anderson, Robert Townsend
Published: 3:52 PM CDT September 12, 2024
Updated: 2:21 PM CDT September 13, 2024
ALTON, Ill. — Police are searching for a man from Canton, Illinois, after they said he tried to abduct a 15-year-old girl Tuesday from a bus stop in Alton.
Prosecutors charged Michael J. Roberts, 44, with felony child abduction.
According to the Alton Police Department, a parent called police and said an unknown man drove up to his daughter while she was waiting at her bus stop and tried to lure her into his car.
The girl told police that the man had been watching her from a nearby parking lot before he pulled up to her and said “get in the car, get in the car,” pointing to his passenger seat.
The girl declined and told him to go away, and the man replied, “Just get in the car.”
The girl then pulled out her phone and threatened to call police, and the man drove away.
Police later identified the man as Roberts. According to court documents, Roberts admitted he talked to the girl and denied knowing she was 15 years old and waiting at a school bus stop, claiming he was just offering the “lady” a ride.
“The evidence will reflect the victim does not have the physical appearance of an adult,” the documents said.
A judge later issued an arrest warrant for Roberts, who was not in custody as of Thursday afternoon. He was ordered to be held in jail.
“We are relieved and thankful that this case played out the way it did, and that the juvenile’s wise and quick actions resulted in the suspect fleeing,” Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said, adding that police believed this was an isolated incident.
Roberts was last seen driving a black Dodge Charger, with the Illinois registration EU74699. Anyone with information should call Alton police or 911.
Credit: Alton Police Department
“They’re just trying to go to school and it’s kind of sad. It’s very sad and scary,” said Laurie Watts, who has lived in the Alton neighborhood for more than 30 years.
“I’ve never heard of anything like this going on in this area, so it’s kind of jarring,” said neighbor Lauren Youngberg. “ … This is great news. This is what we want our girls to do. We want them to have a plan. We want them to know what to do.”
“I also think parents need to really sit down with their kids and talk about this in order to stay safe,” Watts added.
“None of us heard about this before you told us,” said neighbor Robert Watts. “I think with there being enough news coverage, putting the guy’s face out there, making everybody aware in the community that it’s a good chance he’ll get caught.”
