Abduction Attempt Reported Near Lake Ridge Middle School: Police

Woodbridge VA

02 December, 2021

3:49 PM

Description

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A 14-year-old girl was pulled into the woods by an unknown near Lake Ridge Middle School on Tuesday evening, according to a report from the Prince William County Police Department. The girl was able to escape without any injuries, and police are looking for a suspect. The incident was reported to police around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30. At that time, officers responded to the 12300 block of Mohican Drive in Woodbridge to investigate a reported abduction attempt. The abduction attempt itself occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police said. Authorities said the 14-year-old girl was walking with friends near Lake Ridge Middle School when she separated from the group. "As the victim walked by a nearby wooded area, an unknown man reportedly grabbed the victim's arm and pulled her into the woods," the Prince William County Police Department said in their report. "During the encounter, the man put his hand on the victim's mouth." Then, the victim's friends began to call out for her, police said. The man released the girl and fled into the woods, according to the report. "After rejoining the group, the victim did not disclose the encounter to her friends and continued home where police were contacted later that evening," the police department said in their report. "Officers spoke to the friends who accompanied the victim, none of which reported seeing the suspect or hearing the encounter." The victim did not report any injuries, and the police department is still investigating the incident. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man with shoulder-length black hair. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt with writing down the right sleeve, jeans, and white sneakers at the time of the abduction attempt, according to the report. Anyone with more information about the incident can contact the Prince William County Police Department's tipline at 703-792-7000. Tips can also be submitted online. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children operates a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-843-5678. The hotline can provide resources for victims and their families in instances of abduction, attempted abduction, or sexual exploitation. Support systems and other resources for victims and their families are available online.