Watch CBS News

Man Charged After Attempting To Abduct Four Young Girls: Police

Henry Wright, Attempted Abduction
Henry Wright (Lake County Sheriff's Dept.)

(STMW) -- A north suburban man who allegedly tried to abduct four young girls as they walked on the street Wednesday is behind bars on a $1 million bond Thursday after police say he was involved in an accident leaving the area.

Abduction Foiled

About 5 p.m. Wednesday, the girls -- ages 4 to 8 -- were walking in the 39100 block of Welsh Lane in Beach Park when a man drove up in car and asked them if they wanted a ride, according to a statement from the Lake County Sheriff's office.

The children said no and started to run, but the man chased them in his car until they got to the home of one of the girls, according to police. That girl's mother was able to identify the car as a black Toyota Camry and was also able to get the license plate number, which she gave to police.

As officers were searching for the car, they were alerted to a hit-and-run accident at Wadsworth and Delany roads in which the black Camry was involved. Waukegan police arrested the suspect at the accident scene and turned him over to sheriff's officers.

Henry Wright, 29, of the 25000 block of Arcade Drive in Lake Villa, was charged with four counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping and four counts of child abduction, according to the sheriff's office.

He was also cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to give aid or information, and driving with no insurance.

He is being held in the Lake County Jail on a $1 million bond, and is scheduled to appear in court May 3 in Waukegan.

Sheriff Mark Curran lauded the young girls for their quick thinking, saying in a statement: "I think the lessons of stranger danger are worth repeating."

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.