11-year-old girl fights off abductor at bus stop
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'LUCKILY SHE FIGHTS': Video shows knife-wielding man trying to kidnap Florida girl
Accused has extensive criminal history, which includes sexual offences with a child
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Jaclyn Peiser
Publishing date:May 19, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • 16 Comments
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla.
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB /Escambia County Sheriff's Office
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The 11-year-old girl was sitting on her knees, waiting for a school bus Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla., when a man stopped his white SUV, hopped out, and ran toward her with a knife. In a panic, she grabbed her backpack and started to run away.
The man caught up to her, chilling surveillance footage shows, grabbed her and began dragging her toward his car.
But the girl punched, kicked and squirmed until the man tripped and released his grasp. She sprinted home.
The disturbing incident set off a full-force, hours-long manhunt by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to identify and locate the man responsible.
On Tuesday evening, deputies arrested Jared Paul Stanga, 30, and charged him with attempted kidnapping of a child under 13 and aggravated assault and battery. Stanga’s extensive criminal history, including past sexual crimes against children, suggested his intention to commit a heinous crime, police said.
“I cannot help to think that this could have ended very differently,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said at a news conference Tuesday evening. “Had this 11-year-old victim not thought to fight and to fight and to just never give up, than this could have ended terribly.”
The Tuesday incident wasn’t the girl’s first run-in with Stanga, according to police. About two weeks before her valiant escape, Stanga allegedly approached her at the same bus stop and began speaking to her in Spanish.
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Feeling uneasy, she walked away and reported the incident to her mom, teachers and school principal, Simmons said. For two weeks, the girl’s mother accompanied her to the bus stop.
Tuesday was the first day since that incident when her mother wasn’t there.
“We believe that this person has either been watching her specifically or was walking around, looking for an opportunity. Either way, it’s bad,” Simmons said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
Surveillance video shows the 11-year-old girl sitting on a grassy median around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Police said she was waiting at the bus stop and playing with blue slime – the thick and gooey glob often made from borax, glue and water.
As she played, a white Dodge Journey circled the area several times until stopping. The man opened the door and started running toward the girl.
Police said the attacker, who had a knife in one hand, grabbed the girl by her neck and upper torso.
“Luckily, she fights,” Simmons said. “She struggles and then she went limp. And she’s kicking and she’s pushing and she’s punching and she’s able to get free.”
The video shows the two falling to the ground. The girl quickly stood up, scooped up her backpack and took off toward her home. Her would-be abductor then ran back to his car, hopped in and drove off.
“His intent [was] to get her into his car and from that point on, we have no idea what horrors would have awaited this poor little girl,” Simmons said.
After the family reported the incident to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 50 officers knocked on doors, surveilled possible suspects and stopped any white SUV that passed by, Simmons said.
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Police said they eventually identified Stanga as the owner of the car caught on video, though it appeared he had recently painted the vehicle. Other videos also helped identify Stanga, police said, including security footage from a grocery store after the attempted kidnapping that showed his arms covered in the blue slime that the girl was playing with.
Officers arrested him at his home in Pensacola around 5 p.m. without incident, according to Simmons.
Stanga was booked in Escambia County Jail. Bond has not been set. It is unclear when he is due in court and jail records do not identity a lawyer.
Stanga has an extensive criminal history, which includes sexual offences with a child, Simmons said. It is unclear how many times he has been charged and if he was convicted or awaiting adjudication for the previous alleged crimes.
The sheriff’s office reached out to other local law enforcement to see if they’ve had similar cases recently. “Our concern is this wasn’t his first try,” Simmons said.
Simmons, who called Stanga an “animal” and described his actions as “evil,” said the 11-year-old had a few scratches and was working through the “mental trauma” of the event. But he also praised her bravery and tenacity.
“She fought like a trooper and one of these days I’m going to give her an award for fighting and fighting and fighting,” he said.
torontosun.com
Accused has extensive criminal history, which includes sexual offences with a child
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Jaclyn Peiser
Publishing date:May 19, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • 16 Comments
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla.
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB /Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Article content
The 11-year-old girl was sitting on her knees, waiting for a school bus Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla., when a man stopped his white SUV, hopped out, and ran toward her with a knife. In a panic, she grabbed her backpack and started to run away.
The man caught up to her, chilling surveillance footage shows, grabbed her and began dragging her toward his car.
But the girl punched, kicked and squirmed until the man tripped and released his grasp. She sprinted home.
The disturbing incident set off a full-force, hours-long manhunt by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to identify and locate the man responsible.
On Tuesday evening, deputies arrested Jared Paul Stanga, 30, and charged him with attempted kidnapping of a child under 13 and aggravated assault and battery. Stanga’s extensive criminal history, including past sexual crimes against children, suggested his intention to commit a heinous crime, police said.
“I cannot help to think that this could have ended very differently,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said at a news conference Tuesday evening. “Had this 11-year-old victim not thought to fight and to fight and to just never give up, than this could have ended terribly.”
The Tuesday incident wasn’t the girl’s first run-in with Stanga, according to police. About two weeks before her valiant escape, Stanga allegedly approached her at the same bus stop and began speaking to her in Spanish.
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Feeling uneasy, she walked away and reported the incident to her mom, teachers and school principal, Simmons said. For two weeks, the girl’s mother accompanied her to the bus stop.
Tuesday was the first day since that incident when her mother wasn’t there.
“We believe that this person has either been watching her specifically or was walking around, looking for an opportunity. Either way, it’s bad,” Simmons said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
Surveillance video shows the 11-year-old girl sitting on a grassy median around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Police said she was waiting at the bus stop and playing with blue slime – the thick and gooey glob often made from borax, glue and water.
As she played, a white Dodge Journey circled the area several times until stopping. The man opened the door and started running toward the girl.
Police said the attacker, who had a knife in one hand, grabbed the girl by her neck and upper torso.
“Luckily, she fights,” Simmons said. “She struggles and then she went limp. And she’s kicking and she’s pushing and she’s punching and she’s able to get free.”
The video shows the two falling to the ground. The girl quickly stood up, scooped up her backpack and took off toward her home. Her would-be abductor then ran back to his car, hopped in and drove off.
“His intent [was] to get her into his car and from that point on, we have no idea what horrors would have awaited this poor little girl,” Simmons said.
After the family reported the incident to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 50 officers knocked on doors, surveilled possible suspects and stopped any white SUV that passed by, Simmons said.
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Police said they eventually identified Stanga as the owner of the car caught on video, though it appeared he had recently painted the vehicle. Other videos also helped identify Stanga, police said, including security footage from a grocery store after the attempted kidnapping that showed his arms covered in the blue slime that the girl was playing with.
Officers arrested him at his home in Pensacola around 5 p.m. without incident, according to Simmons.
Stanga was booked in Escambia County Jail. Bond has not been set. It is unclear when he is due in court and jail records do not identity a lawyer.
Stanga has an extensive criminal history, which includes sexual offences with a child, Simmons said. It is unclear how many times he has been charged and if he was convicted or awaiting adjudication for the previous alleged crimes.
The sheriff’s office reached out to other local law enforcement to see if they’ve had similar cases recently. “Our concern is this wasn’t his first try,” Simmons said.
Simmons, who called Stanga an “animal” and described his actions as “evil,” said the 11-year-old had a few scratches and was working through the “mental trauma” of the event. But he also praised her bravery and tenacity.
“She fought like a trooper and one of these days I’m going to give her an award for fighting and fighting and fighting,” he said.
'LUCKILY SHE FIGHTS': Video shows knife-wielding man trying to kidnap Florida girl
Accused has extensive criminal history, which includes sexual offences with a child
Family dog saves girl, 12, after being chased by man in truck
Author of the article
ostmedia News
Publishing date:May 19, 2021 • 15 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
angry barking dog with bared teeth
angry barking dog with bared teeth PHOTO BY FILE PHOTO /Getty Images
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A man driving a pick-up truck stood no chance against a dog who was trying to protect a beloved family member.
According to news outlet WKBN, a 12-year-old girl from Columbiana, Ohio was saved by her family dog after a man in a circa 1970s Ford pick-up truck allegedly chased her this past Saturday.
Cops say the unnamed girl was followed by the strange man in the vehicle before he exited it to chase her. After the girl ran up the driveway of her father’s home, the family dog reportedly went into protection mode and knocked the male suspect to the ground.
A police report noted the canine “got him pretty good.” The man reportedly ran back to his truck and bolted. He was last seen travelling from Columbiana towards New Waterford.
The suspect is still at large, stated the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office and the incident remains under investigation.
wkbn.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublishing date:May 19, 2021 • 15 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
angry barking dog with bared teeth
angry barking dog with bared teeth PHOTO BY FILE PHOTO /Getty Images
Article content
A man driving a pick-up truck stood no chance against a dog who was trying to protect a beloved family member.
According to news outlet WKBN, a 12-year-old girl from Columbiana, Ohio was saved by her family dog after a man in a circa 1970s Ford pick-up truck allegedly chased her this past Saturday.
Cops say the unnamed girl was followed by the strange man in the vehicle before he exited it to chase her. After the girl ran up the driveway of her father’s home, the family dog reportedly went into protection mode and knocked the male suspect to the ground.
A police report noted the canine “got him pretty good.” The man reportedly ran back to his truck and bolted. He was last seen travelling from Columbiana towards New Waterford.
The suspect is still at large, stated the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office and the incident remains under investigation.
Report: Dog saves young girl from man who chased her in Fairfield Twp.
The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information from an incident involving a 1970’s model Ford pick-up truck in Fairfield Township over the weekend.
wkbn.com
Family dog saves girl, 12, after being chased by man in truck
A man driving a pick-up truck stood no chance against a dog who was trying to protect a beloved family member.
Florida girl thwarts kidnapper with help from Law & Order SVU
Author of the article:Liz Braun
Publishing date:May 21, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla.
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB /Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Article content
A quick-thinking 11-year-old in Florida escaped her kidnapper — and even thought to leave evidence that would help police identify him.
Alyssa Bonal was waiting for her school bus in West Pensacola Tuesday when a man jumped out of a vehicle, knife in hand, and attempted to abduct her.
She fought back.
The young woman struggled enough that the would-be kidnapper fell to the ground himself, then fled back to his car.
The girl ran off in the other direction and got help from a neighbour.
Alyssa had been playing with Blue Slime while waiting for the bus and had the presence of mind to smear some on the arms of her alleged attacker.
The adolescent credits regular watching of Law & Order: SVU with her mother for her fast thinking. Her mother, Amber Bonal, 30, told the Pensacola News Journal the two have probably watched every episode of the show.
“She said, ‘Mom, I had to leave some sort of evidence behind, like on Law & Order: SVU.’ She’s a smart cookie, she thinks on her toes. She got that slime everywhere.”
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The blue dye did indeed help police find suspect Jared Paul Stanga, 30, who was arrested later Tuesday for the attempted kidnapping.
Stanga had at his home a white Dodge Journey like the one seen in neighbourhood surveillance video of the attack on the the girl. The car’s license plate was allegedly a match.
And Stanga allegedly had blue dye on his arms.
He has been charged with attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery. His bond was set at $1.5 million.
Alyssa’s courage was rewarded with a post on Instagram from the star of Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay. The actor wrote how relieved she was that Alyssa was safe.
“And I am so honored to be part of your incredible story. You are one BRAVE, Strong and Smart young woman. I think the SVU squad might have to add slime to their crimefighting gear! Take good care of yourself and each other. With all my love, your number one fan, Mariska.”
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On the morning of the attempted kidnapping, surveillance video shows a white SUV driving by Alyssa once before circling back within a minute. The driver then parked the vehicle and ran out to try to grab her.
Someone in a white vehicle also approached Alyssa a month ago — an incident she reported to her mother and teacher at the time.
A few days before the attempted kidnapping, Alyssa’s mother had spoken to her and a young neighbour about what to do if anyone ever tried to grab them. She told the girls to kick, scream, bite and yell.
“I don’t care if they have a knife or a gun,” Amber told them. “You get away and you find the first open door, and she said that that was what was going through her head when the man grabbed her.”
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Alyssa, who is on the honour roll at West Pensacola Elementary, told the Today Show on Thursday that she felt proud of herself for her quick thinking.
Her mother described her as an amazing little girl.
“She has always been very mature and very smart,” Bonal said.
instagram.com
instagram.com
today.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Liz Braun
Publishing date:May 21, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla.
A knife-wielding man runs towards a girl Tuesday morning in Pensacola, Fla. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB /Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Article content
A quick-thinking 11-year-old in Florida escaped her kidnapper — and even thought to leave evidence that would help police identify him.
Alyssa Bonal was waiting for her school bus in West Pensacola Tuesday when a man jumped out of a vehicle, knife in hand, and attempted to abduct her.
She fought back.
The young woman struggled enough that the would-be kidnapper fell to the ground himself, then fled back to his car.
The girl ran off in the other direction and got help from a neighbour.
Alyssa had been playing with Blue Slime while waiting for the bus and had the presence of mind to smear some on the arms of her alleged attacker.
The adolescent credits regular watching of Law & Order: SVU with her mother for her fast thinking. Her mother, Amber Bonal, 30, told the Pensacola News Journal the two have probably watched every episode of the show.
“She said, ‘Mom, I had to leave some sort of evidence behind, like on Law & Order: SVU.’ She’s a smart cookie, she thinks on her toes. She got that slime everywhere.”
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Article content
The blue dye did indeed help police find suspect Jared Paul Stanga, 30, who was arrested later Tuesday for the attempted kidnapping.
Stanga had at his home a white Dodge Journey like the one seen in neighbourhood surveillance video of the attack on the the girl. The car’s license plate was allegedly a match.
And Stanga allegedly had blue dye on his arms.
He has been charged with attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery. His bond was set at $1.5 million.
Alyssa’s courage was rewarded with a post on Instagram from the star of Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay. The actor wrote how relieved she was that Alyssa was safe.
“And I am so honored to be part of your incredible story. You are one BRAVE, Strong and Smart young woman. I think the SVU squad might have to add slime to their crimefighting gear! Take good care of yourself and each other. With all my love, your number one fan, Mariska.”
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On the morning of the attempted kidnapping, surveillance video shows a white SUV driving by Alyssa once before circling back within a minute. The driver then parked the vehicle and ran out to try to grab her.
Someone in a white vehicle also approached Alyssa a month ago — an incident she reported to her mother and teacher at the time.
A few days before the attempted kidnapping, Alyssa’s mother had spoken to her and a young neighbour about what to do if anyone ever tried to grab them. She told the girls to kick, scream, bite and yell.
“I don’t care if they have a knife or a gun,” Amber told them. “You get away and you find the first open door, and she said that that was what was going through her head when the man grabbed her.”
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Alyssa, who is on the honour roll at West Pensacola Elementary, told the Today Show on Thursday that she felt proud of herself for her quick thinking.
Her mother described her as an amazing little girl.
“She has always been very mature and very smart,” Bonal said.
Mariska (@therealmariskahargitay) • Instagram photos and videos
3M Followers, 2,612 Following, 3,191 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mariska (@therealmariskahargitay)
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Mariska on Instagram: "Alyssa, first and most important, I am so relieved and grateful to know that you are safe. And I am so honored to be part of your incredible story. You are one BRAVE, Strong and Smart young woman. I think the SVU squad might ha
181K likes, 2,984 comments - therealmariskahargitay on May 20, 2021: "Alyssa, first and most important, I am so relieved and grateful to know that you are safe. And I am so honored to be part of your incredible story. You are one BRAVE, Strong and Smart young woman. I think the SVU squad might...
instagram.com
How watching ‘SVU’ helped this 11-year-old fight off an attempted kidnapping
A Florida girl bravely fought off an attempted kidnapping caught on video — and a popular toy she was holding helped police identify the suspect.
today.com
Mom speaks out: 'She's a smart cookie,' blue slime caught suspected kidnapper
In an exclusive interview with the Pensacola News Journal, the mom of the 11-year-old girl who fended off a would-be kidnapper said her daughter knew what to do to save herself — and catch the suspect.
pnj.com
Florida girl thwarts kidnapper with help from Law & Order SVU
A quick-thinking 11-year-old in Florida escaped her kidnapper — and even thought to leave evidence that would help police identify him.