A 9-year-old girl from Stockton narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt while walking to school on Tuesday morning, thanks to quick actions by her mother, bystanders, and school staff. The incident took place on the 800 block of American Street, and Stockton police were able to arrest the suspect within minutes.
The suspect, identified by police as 44-year-old Kenneth Collins, approached the young girl and attempted to grab her as she and her mother walked to school. Fortunately, the pair's alertness and swift response, along with help from bystanders, allowed police to apprehend Collins just blocks away.
"Officers arrived on scene and met with the 9-year-old student and her mother, who were on their way to school when the suspect approached them," said Stockton Police Public Information Officer David Scott. "Security measures and protocols really assisted us in relaying information quickly to surrounding patrol units."
The girl is a student at KIPP University Park Elementary School, and the school promptly informed parents of the incident. In a statement, the school emphasized the importance of community vigilance and safety, expressing relief that the child was unharmed.
"Nearby adults and school staff acted quickly, and the student was not grabbed, and no one was injured," the school stated. "The safety of our students is our number one priority, and we are grateful for a school community that looks out for one another."
Parents in the community were shaken by the close call. Isabel Perez, a parent at the school, spoke about the need for constant vigilance. "It's just extremely wild. We just stay together and constantly communicate. It's really important to stay together."
Police are reminding parents and students to stay aware of their surroundings, particularly when walking to and from school. Officer Scott emphasized the importance of attentiveness, noting that it helped prevent a potential tragedy in this case.
The suspect has been charged with attempted kidnapping, and the community is left with an important reminder about the need for vigilance to protect children.