Man Charged With Trying To Abduct Girl, Who Escaped By Hitting Him With Padlocks
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A 36-year-old man has been charged with trying to abduct a 13-year-old girl, who escaped by striking him in the face with padlocks last month in north suburban Skokie.
Gabino A. Torres, 36, of the 7200 block of North Bell Avenue in Chicago is in custody charged with unlawful restraint and attempted kidnapping, according to Skokie police.
About 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, the girl left Old Orchard Junior High and was walking to Niles North High School when a man driving a blue SUV/crossover pulled into the Golf Galaxy parking lot at 4831 Golf Rd., a statement from police said.
Torres got out of the vehicle and asked the girl for directions to a nearby restaurant, then tried to pull her towards his vehicle, police said.
But the girl "reached into her backpack and pulled out a few metal padlocks on a string and hit the subject in his jaw," police said.
Torres was arrested on Wednesday following a tip made to police. He is expected to appear in bond court Friday in Skokie.
Police said "cooperation and tip information provided by the public was critical to this investigation."
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)