WASHINGTON — Police are increasing patrols, interviewing neighbors and searching for surveillance tape that might show an attempted abduction reported by a Gaithersburg, Maryland, high school student Monday.
The girl told police a man tried to put a black bag over her head about 7 a.m. Monday as she walked to the bus stop near the Cider Mill Apartments pool. The apartments are across the street from the Lake Forest Mall.
“She screamed, and when she screamed the suspect ran away,” Montgomery County Police officer Rick Goodale said the girl reported to police.
The girl’s reported reaction is what every potential victim should do, according to police.
“Make as much noise as possible — try to draw as much attention to the situation as possible,” Goodale said. “That could maybe help identify the suspect leading to his capture or causing the suspect to flee before any more harm occurs.”
The girl attends Watkins Mill High School. The school principal sent a letter to students and parents Monday informing them about the alleged incident while reiterating advice from police about paying attention to your surroundings.
“Please speak with your son/daughter about this incident and the importance of staying alert, taking headphones out, and making a habit of walking to school with a friend,” the letter from Principal Carol Goddard said.
Both children and adults often walk with their noses buried in cellphones when they should be paying attention, Goodale said.
“If you walk around with your head up, looking around at what’s going on around you — there’s a very good chance that you’re less likely to be a victim,” he said.
The suspect is described as a black man with a goatee, medium build, about 5 feet 5 inches tall in his mid to late 30s. He reportedly was wearing black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt displaying a red logo.
Anyone who might have relevant information is asked to call Montgomery County police at 240-773-5400.
There’s a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
