A 65-year old man from Sterling Heights is in custody in the attempted abduction of a middle school student in Eastpointe.
The man turned himself into Eastponte police on Wednesday. A citizen prevented him from forcing a 12-year-old girl into his car in the 17000 block of Bell as she walked home from school Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses helped police identify the suspect.
Eastpointe Police expect the man to be arraigned Thursday in 38th District Court.
A letter was sent home to parents in the East Detroit School District to alert them and provide a reminder of good safety practices, according to superintendent Ryan McLeod.
"Anytime something like this happens, it gives us a great opportunity as a district to be able to revisit these things with our families and with our students so we make sure we're prepared for these kinds of things," McLeod told 7 Action News. "We never want to let our guard down."
Teachers took time during class Tuesday to go over tips for walking to and from school and stranger danger safety.
In 12013, East Detroit Public Schools also started Project Student Safe Zone, a partnership with community partners including Eastpointe Police. Local businesses participating in the project display stickers on their windows to let students know the business is a safe location should they feel threatened for any reason.
