Man Tries to Abduct Girl, 11, in Irvine
A man tried to abduct an 11-year-old girl from a school carnival in Irvine on Friday night, but the child escaped unharmed, authorities said.
Irvine Police Sgt. Phil Povey gave this account of the incident:
The girl was attending Northwood Elementary’s annual carnival on the school playground when a man she did not know approached her about 6 p.m. and told her they had to go. The man grabbed her hand and began walking her from the playground behind the school toward a pathway that leads to Muir and Lewis. When the child pulled away from the man and began yelling, he fled to a white car and escaped.
Authorities believe the man was white, in his 20s, 5 feet 6 inches tall with a thin build. He had black hair, slicked back, and was wearing dark glasses, a maroon T-shirt and cutoff, faded jeans. His car, according to police, was similar to a Honda Accord.
The child ran for help and was brought to the school principal, who notified police. Officers searched but did not find anyone matching the description, Povey said. The child was not physically injured, he said.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call them at (949) 724-7000.
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