Aurora cops: False alarm on one abduction attempt
A 20-year-old Aurora man questioned by police in what was thought to be an attempted abduction of a 13-year-old girl had no criminal intent and will not be charged, authorities said Friday.
Police said they found the man after receiving numerous leads through social media. But after interviewing him and carefully reviewing a surveillance video, detectives concluded he meant the girl no harm.
The case occurred about 11:30 a.m. July 2 near New York and Union streets. The girl said she was walking when a man drove up alongside her and tried to initiate a conversation. She ran into a McDonald's and sat by a family for safety and it originally was thought the man ran in after her and then left when he saw her near others.
Police now say the man confirmed that he spoke to the girl and went into the restaurant after her, but he believed her to be older and had no intentions of abducting or harming her.
Police also believe the case is not linked to another attempted abduction in the same general area that occurred on July 13.
That case remains under investigation and involves a 15-year-old girl who said a man approached her around 10:05 p.m. near Root and New York streets after getting out of a dark-colored vehicle. The man tried to initiate a conversation with her and offered her a ride but the girl ignored him.
As she was walking away, the girl said the man grabbed her but let her go when she began to scream. The suspect ran to his vehicle, which was parked on East Park Place, and fled.
The suspect in that case is described as a 20- to 25-year-old Hispanic standing about 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 180 pounds. He was wearing a black and brown T-shirt under a yellow reflective vest along with dirty blue jeans and tan work boots. He was driving a green, later-model car similar to a Honda Civic or Accord.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests.