Albert Lea Police Investigating 2 Attempted Abductions
ALBERT LEA, Minn. (WCCO) -- A southern Minnesota community is on edge Monday night after two attempted abductions were reported to police.
They happened in Albert Lea, just hours apart on Saturday and Sunday.
Police say the first occurred at the Freeborn County Fair. The second at a basketball court near a city swimming pool.
The atmosphere in Albert Lea went from laid back to alarmed over the weekend.
Deputies on patrol at the Freeborn County Fair say just before 10 p.m. Saturday, they were stopped by a 12-year-old girl who said someone grabbed her from behind and said "keep walking and nobody will get hurt." She complied for a few seconds, and then the man ran away after someone yelled at him to leave her alone.
"She's fine, was able to get away from the reported abductor and able to report to law enforcement some time later," J.D. Carlson with the Albert Lea Police Department said.
"When it happens I think even the teenagers are like 'Oh my goodness - this is happening here - this really could happen to me or a friend or someone I know,'" Albert Lea resident Amy Schumacher said.
As word spread through town about the attempted abduction at the Freeborn County fair, police in Albert Lea received a report of another disturbing incident just hours later, at a different location: The basketball court near the city's aquatic center.
"About 6:30 at night, an individual playing basketball, a 22-year-old male, and a silver van with rust approached. A male got out and asked if he could join in playing some ball," Carlson said.
Police say the young man told them the suspect later lifted his shirt to display a handgun and instructed him to come with him. Instead, he ran away and called the police.
"From what we can tell the cases are not connected. The method of operation with the 12-year-old girl doesn't appear to be anything like basketball player at the park," Carlson said.
"Really hitting home, because you know, there's always been the awareness throughout the years of having my children but it's like, to have it actually happen here in my hometown," Alert Lea resident Jena Thompson said.
Police say the suspect in the second case is described as a man in his 20s or 30s, wearing a white T-shirt and black basketball shorts.
In the first case, the girl had few details. Anyone with information is asked to call the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office or Albert Lea police.