Middle school students stop man from kidnapping child at bus stop
Jamaal Germany (Montgomery County Police Department)
Students waiting at a school bus stop Monday morning acted when they saw an adult apparently trying to kidnap one of their classmates, intervened and eventually foiled the possible kidnapping attempt, police say.
Authorities said it all happened in Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20 miles north of Washington, DC, when a 31-year-old man, identified as Jamaal Germany, allegedly dragged a child to an apartment building.
“The suspect allegedly grabbed the child and dragged him to an apartment building,” officials said in a press release. “Several students who were standing at the bus stop tried to intervene and the victim was able to free himself. When the school bus arrived, all the students got on the bus and the incident was reported to the school staff.”
Authorities say that when the school bus arrived, all students were apprehended and boarded the bus before the incident was reported to school staff.
A Community Engagement Officer also contacted the children’s school about 30 minutes after the attempted kidnapping incident was reported.
Germany was posted to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. He faces charges of attempted kidnapping and second-degree assault, authorities said.
A student told Washington DC’s FOX 5 that the man appeared to have a broken beer bottle.
“The man tried to grab the child,” said the student. “He also grabbed the glass to convince the kid to come with him. Then he tried to grab him. But then some kids helped him and the bus driver helped him get on the bus. And then when he got on the bus, he ran away.”
A neighbor told local NBC News affiliate WRC-TV that the suspect did the same thing at the bus stop last week. Another person told the outlet the man was seen making threats days earlier.
Local residents are appalled.
“How are you supposed to grow up here knowing you have to look over your shoulder every five seconds,” said one.
According to the WRC report, police announced they would step up patrols around the bus stop in the days following the incident.
“I’m glad he got caught and they are very brave kids who helped their classmate,” said another resident.
Do you have a tip we should know? [email protected]
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/very-brave-children-middle-schoolers-stop-man-from-kidnapping-classmate-at-bus-stop/ Middle school students stop man from kidnapping child at bus stop
