Galveston police are searching for a man accused of trying to kidnap a 13-year-old girl on her way to school Monday morning. The student escaped after biting the suspect twice, police said.
Authorities in Galveston are on the lookout for a man suspected of trying to abduct a 13-year-old girl during her walk to school early Monday morning.
Officers from the Galveston Police Department arrived at Central Middle School shortly before 7 a.m. Teachers reported an incident where a man approached a student near the 900 block of 28th Street.
A young woman reported to authorities that she sensed someone approaching from behind before being unexpectedly seized. “Following a short confrontation, she managed to bite him twice, escape, and make her way to school,” the department stated in a release.
According to local officials, the student's parents subsequently assisted officers in retracing her path to identify the site of the alleged incident. Surveillance footage from a business on 24th Street shows a student walking along the sidewalk, soon followed by a man who took the same route.
Reports indicate that the individual in question appears to be a white or Hispanic male wearing a black short-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and what seemed to be a ski mask.
Officials reported that the girl emerged unscathed from the incident, but they are notifying nearby medical centers to be on the lookout for anyone coming in with bite injuries.
The Galveston Police Department seeks help from the community to identify the individual in question. The department encourages individuals with relevant information to contact its non-emergency line at 409-765-3777.
Authorities have announced that law enforcement personnel are stepping up their presence near schools and collaborating with nearby businesses to review additional surveillance footage.
Authorities urged parents to engage their children in conversations about personal safety and to report any unusual behavior promptly.
“The swift actions and bravery of this young student were pivotal,” a department spokesperson stated. “We are taking all necessary measures to track down and apprehend the individual responsible.”
