Man arrested after allegedly trying to abduct girl off bike

FREDONIA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Police have picked up a suspect in the attempted abduction of a child on the southern tier. The attack happened Thursday morning and police arrested a man in connection to the attempted abduction Thursday afternoon around 5:30 p.m.

Police say the girl was riding her bike to school around 7:30 a.m. when the man knocked her off her bike and held her to the ground. The 13-year-old kicked and screamed and the suspect took off. Fredonia Police say a homeowner on Newton Street saw a parked car with a door open around that time. When the homeowner heard about what happened to the girl, he called police with a description of the vehicle, and authorities were able to use that information to make an arrest.

Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley said, "Everything would point to the fact that he was attempting to gain control of her and potentially take her away from that scene. This location is a very busy location in the village of Fredonia. Central Avenue, it connects the village of Fredonia to the city of Dunkirk. It's a rather well-traveled area. I can't imagine that the man intended to do anything right there at 7:30 in the morning. I would believe that his intentions were to take her away."

Police say the suspect is a 22-year-old man from Brocton, but they are not releasing more information about the suspect at this time.