SANDY, Utah - Unified Police are investigating an reported attempted kidnapping in Sandy on Thursday morning.
Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal says a 9-year-old girl was walking to school on the sidewalk near 8480 South and 1575 East in Sandy at around 8 a.m. Thursday when a man pulled his vehicle up beside her.
Police say the suspect got out of a minivan and approached the girl, grabbing her arm. The girl kicked the suspect in the knee and he let go, but grabbed her again. The girl then hit the suspect in the stomach with her elbow and he let go again. She then ran away.
As the girl was running away, police say, she saw the suspect get back in his vehicle, make a U-turn and flee the area.
When the girl got to school, she told her friends about the alleged attempted abduction and they sought help from a teacher who called police.
The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s with shoulder-length brown hair. He was wearing white sunglasses, a red beanie, a black hoodie with an unknown design, black sweatpants and black and white shoes.
He was driving a dark-colored minivan with sliding doors on both sides and black leather interior.
The Canyons School District is urging parents and students to use caution at this time. District authorities say all school principals and PTA members and leadership were made aware of the incident.
Unified Police detectives are investigating the incident and are seeking help from the public in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident is asked to call UPD at 801-743-7000.
