Police: Man tried to abduct 12-year-old girl from Cleveland RTA Rapid station, photos released

CLEVELAND - Cleveland police released photos of a man who allegedly tried to abduct a 12-year-old girl from a west side RTA Rapid station while she was going to school.

The incident happened at about 7:40 a.m. Wednesday as the girl was getting off the train at the Puritas Avenue station.

According to the police report, a man grabbed the girl by the left arm, but she broke free. As she started to run away, the man grabbed her by the arm again, pushed her up against a fence and then tried to push her into a shrub.

The girl told officers the man tried to slap her in the face, but she blocked his hand.

The driver of a car saw what was happening, stopped and then asked if everything was OK. The girl was then able to break free and run toward her school, Puritas Community School, where she alerted staff of the incident. The man ran toward the Rapid station.

According to girl's report, she boarded the Rapid at the West Park Station but wasn't sure if the man was already on the train or if he also boarded there.

Police are asking for the public’s help to identify the man in the surveillance photos. Here is a physical description that goes along with the images:

- Age: 20s or 30s
- Glasses
- Height: 5’8”
- Weight: More than 220 lbs.
- Clean shaven
- Medium complexion
- Receding hairline
- Last wearing: Royal or medium blue shirt, dark pants

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joyce of the First District Detective Bureau at 216-252-7463.