AN alleged attempted abduction of a 10-year-old girl in Coventry who was grabbed as she pushed her bike has led to two men being arrested.
Police investigating the alleged incident in the Radford area on Sunday announced on Monday they had arrested a 22-year-old man.
Today (Wednesday, September 27), they announced a 40-year-old had been arrested.
Officers were called to Poole Road at 4.15pm (Sunday September 24) after reports the girl had been approached by a man driving a car.
“The man, driving a blue Peugeot, pulled up alongside the child as she walked with her bike along the road and tried to force her into the car,” said the police statement on Monday.
It added: “A member of the public managed to intervene and the man drove off.
“Police searched the area and officers arrested a 22-year-old man later that afternoon on suspicion of attempted kidnap, he is currently helping with enquiries.”
Now a 40-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnap.
The second police statement issued on the force’s website today states: “Police were alerted at 4.15pm on Sunday (September 24) after the 10-year-old reported a man taking hold of her arm as she walked in Poole Road, Radford.
“The youngster managed to struggle free as a member of the public intervened and escaped with just minor grazes having fallen to the floor.
“She provided a detailed description of the attacker and his vehicle during an interview with specially-trained West Midlands Police officers.
“And last night police arrested a 40-year-old Coventry man in the Tile Hill area of the city and seized a vehicle suspected of being used during the offence.”
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Burton, said: “Clearly this was a worrying incident and the enquiry was prioritised with additional officers drafted in to help with an extensive CCTV trawl of the area.
“Enquiries led us to the Tile Hill area of Coventry at around 7.15pm last night where we arrested a man on suspicion of attempted kidnap.
“We’re still keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to us – or who saw a blue 5-door Peugeot 307 driving in the area of Poole Road, Radford, on Sunday afternoon.”
Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on the 101 number quoting crime reference number 20CV/204103U/17 − or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
