QUICK REACTION SAVES GIRL FROM STRANGER
Posted: June 30th, 2011 3:38 PM
Two members of the Marion County Traffic Safety Team were on their lunch break this afternoon when they heard the sounds of a young female screaming for help.
At about 12:10pm, Sergeant Craig Cunningham and Sr. Deputy Kevin Ely were picking up a sandwich at Quiznos, 605 Lancaster Drive, in Salem. They were approached by a panicked 15-year old female who told them a man had just tried to coax her into a car.
The female said she had just gotten off a transit bus to go shopping. She was walking through the parking lot near Wendy's when a male passenger got out of a 1999 Ford Expedition. He walked toward her to her, trying to coax her into joining him in the car. He was described as a Hispanic male in his 30's, possibly named JT.
The young lady became very scared, and upon spotting the parked Marion County Sheriff's cars nearby, she ran toward them, yelling to the man that she was calling the police. The man quickly returned to the car and it sped away, northbound on Lancaster Drive NE.
Sergeant Cunningham stayed with the victim to gather more information as Deputy Ely started searching the area for the car. He located it about a mile way, but the passenger who approached the girl was not inside. The two occupants were questioned about the incident, but claimed the third subject was acting alone. The said the male suspect had fled before being stopped by Ely. They told Ely they knew him only as JT". The victim confirmed that the two suspects stopped had said nothing to her.
Deputy Ely will continue his investigation. The two Ely stopped were identified and released with a stern warning about the possible consequences of the suspect's actions. There was not enough evidence to hold them. The information will be checked against any prior crimes of this nature.
Deputy Ely commented, "The victim in this incident did exactly what she should have done. Her quick thinking saved her from becoming a crime victim".
Parents are encouraged to educate their children on protect themselves from strangers.
For more crime prevention information, go to our website: http://www.co.marion.or.us/SO/Operations/programs/
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