Aurora police release image of suspect in possible abduction attempt
Editor's note: This file was updated to remove an image released by the police after it was determined the case was not an abduction attempt.
Aurora police are hunting for suspects in two possible attempted abductions of teenage girls that occurred about two weeks apart in the same area of the city.
Police, who released a surveillance photo and a composite sketch of the suspects, said they do not know if the cases are related.
The surveillance photo is from a July 2 case reported around 11:30 a.m. near New York and Union streets, police said. A 13-year-old girl told investigators she was walking in the area when the man in the picture, driving an older model blue, four-door car, stopped alongside her and tried to start a conversation.
The girl said she was frightened and ran into a McDonald's restaurant and took a seat by a family. Police said the man ran into the restaurant after her, but left when he saw her near the family.
Police said the suspect is described as a 30- to 35-year-old black man with shoulder-length dread locks who stands about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs roughly 190 pounds.
The composite sketch, meanwhile, is based on the description of a man provided by a 15-year-old girl who told police the suspect got out of a dark-colored vehicle and approached her around 10:05 p.m. July 13 near Root and New York streets. She said the man offered her a ride but she ignored him.
The girl told police she tried to walk away but the man grabbed her, only to let go when she began screaming. The man ran to his vehicle and fled.
The second case later was determined to have not been an abduction attempt.
Anyone with information about either case is asked to call Aurora police at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash award of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.