A 13-year-old girl was almost kidnapped on Friday night in Germantown and police are asking for the public’s help in finding her assailant.

According to police, the girl was walking north along Mateny Road toward her home after shopping at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Clopper Road and Mateny Road at 7:50 pm on Friday, April 6. As she was walking a Hispanic man in a white vehicle pulled up and attempted to abduct her. She managed to free herself when a bystander who was walking his dog witnessed the assault and yelled at the suspect to stop.

After she completed her shopping, she began walking north on Mateny Road to return to her residence.

“While she was walking north on Mateny Road,” police said, “she was approached by a male in a white vehicle, possibly a smaller SUV. While still in his vehicle, the Hispanic male driver asked her if she needed a ride. When she replied that she didn’t need a ride, the suspect parked and exited his vehicle. He approached the girl, grabbing her arm, and pulling on it. The victim was able to free herself and flee from the suspect. She ran home and told her parents who then called the police.”

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigations Division are asking the public for assistance regarding this attempted kidnapping in Germantown.

The victim described the suspect as a Hispanic male, possibly in his 30’s, 5-feet, 10-inches tall, and thin — weighing approximately 160 pounds. He was clean-shaven and smelled “clean” as if he had recently bathed. He had a thick Hispanic accent. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans and driving a white vehicle, possibly a small SUV.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed this event or has information regarding this suspect or crime to call the Montgomery County Police Department non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

Captions:

Top: The bus stop on Mateny Road, near Stone Hollow Drive, looking north.

Next: The 7-Eleven store at the corner of Mateny Road and Clopper Road, police say the victim had visited this store just before the attempted kidnapping on Friday, April 6.

Next: Mateny Road in Germantown.

Photos by Germantown Pulse.