Extra Security at Area School After Girl Breaks Free in Abduction Attempt

A St. Clair Shores girl broke free from a would-be abductor Wednesday, and dogs were called to search the area around Elmwood Elementary School for the man who is known to teachers there.

Pamela Balint, superintendent of South Lake Schools, told the Detroit Free Press that extra security precautions are in place at the school, located at 22700 California, today. The girl, a fifth-grader, was not injured and is in school today.

“Today, there was a strong police presence at the school, and everything went very smoothly” as the school day began, Balint said.

The man is not associated with the girl, and police have been in contact with members of his family, the superintendent said.

The man approached the girl as classes were being dismissed about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday and lifted her off the ground by her arms, St. Clair Shores police said. She broke free and ran to a teacher, and then was turned over to her mother.

A police and dog search of the area around the school did not turn up the suspect, who is described as a dark-skinned white male with dark-brown hair and a short dark brown beard. He stands about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and is between 30-50 years old and is missing some front teeth. When last seen, he was wearing a blue and gray jacket and a blue baseball-style hat with an unknown emblem.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (586) 445-5300.

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