Lake County Sheriff searching for attempted abduction suspect

Lake County Sheriff's officials are searching for a man in an apparent attempted child abduction in Beach Park earlier this month, officials said Tuesday.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Christopher Thompson said a 9-year-old girl was walking home from her Gilbert Avenue bus stop at about 3:15 p.m. on March 9, when the suspect pulled up next to her in an old, dark green minivan and tried to entice the child inside.

Thompson said the girl ran away, and the suspect followed slowly behind her before he turned in a driveway near Chaplin Avenue and left the area.

Police said the victim described the subject as a male in his mid-20s with red spiked hair. He was wearing a gray tank top with tattoos on both arms. Thompson added the tattoo on his left arm had flames and swirls.

Thompson said the van has tinted windows, blue and green painted writing, and a small picture of a skull in the back window. The letters "ROC" are written on the passenger side of the van.

Police do not believe it was the same man involved in a similar attempted abduction in Schaumburg a few days later.

Officials said witness descriptions of the two drivers and their vehicles were different, except for a nose ring both suspects were wearing.

Sheriff's police want to talk to the driver in the Beach Park case, especially if the confrontation was a misunderstanding, officials said. Police wonder if the driver was simply asking for directions and the girl panicked and ran, police said.

Anyone with information about the Beach Park case can call the sheriff's office at (847) 377-4250.

• Staff reporter Russell Lissau contributed to this report.