North Chicago man accused of trying to lure girl into car

A man was arrested Friday on child abduction charges for attempting to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car in Waukegan, authorities said.

Police said Michael Johnson, 52, of the 1600 block of 17th Street in North Chicago, tried to talk to the girl on two separate occasions as she was walking home from school.

On Nov. 12, the middle school student reported that an unknown man tried to question her after school. Waukegan Public School district officials informed police of the incident, according to a Waukegan police news release.

A day later, the student said the man followed her in his vehicle during her walk home. At one point, he approached her when she was alone and asked multiple questions, the release stated.

Based on the girl’s description of the man and license plate of his vehicle, police were able to find the suspect and question him.

Johnson was formally charged with child abduction, and police said the charge remains the same even if the child is not actually lured into the vehicle.

Authorities said Johnson admitted his involvement in the case.

He has yet to be taken to bond court.