Montclair Woman Escapes After Man Tries To Force Her Into Car: PD

MONTCLAIR, NJ — UPDATE: A Montclair Police Department spokesperson said Thursday that authorities are still investigating the attempted abduction reported on April 21. Our original article follows below.

An 18-year-old Montclair woman suffered some minor scrapes but managed to escape from a man who grabbed her and tried to force her into a car last weekend, authorities said.

According to the Montclair Police Department, officers responded to the area of Park Street and Watchung Avenue around 3:22 p.m. on Sunday, April 21 after receiving a report about an attempted abduction.

The victim told officers that a car pulled alongside her as she was walking north on Park Street. A man then got out of the vehicle, grabbed her and tried to force her toward the car, police said.

The woman was able to resist the man and free herself, suffering "minor scrapes to her neck and arms" in the process. She then ran home, police said.

Authorities said the suspect who grabbed the woman was described as a white male about 40 to 50 years of age with a medium build, from 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 9 inches in height, with brown hair, brown eyes and a brown mustache. He was wearing a beige, short sleeve t-shirt, the victim told officers.

The driver of the vehicle was described as a heavyset, white male about 40 to 50 years of age with a "full beard" and a "round face," police stated.

The victim told police that the vehicle - a four-door, "older model crossover" possibly made after 2000 - was green or gray and had a white-colored license plate on the rear.

Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information can contact the Montclair Police Department at 973-744-1234.

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com