Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with the attempted abduction of a 16-year-old girl on Saturday night in Abbotsford.
Const. Ian MacDonald said Dwight Denis James Love-Paulson of Abbotsford was arrested, and has now been charged with assault, after police stopped him in his vehicle yesterday (Sunday).
MacDonald said a news crew with Global TV was filming footage yesterday at the scene of the attempted abduction, when a van drove by that matched the description of the suspect vehicle. The driver also matched the suspect description, which included that the man had a teardrop tattoo under his eye.
The news crew reported the licence plate to the Abbotsford Police Department (APD), and officers pulled over the vehicle not far from the scene.
The abduction attempt took place at about 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, when the teen was waiting at a bus stop on Old Yale Road near Mitchell Street. A Caucasian man drove past her several times in a van.
Eventually, the suspect parked the van and approached the girl on foot. He tried to entice her with offers of liquor and a ride to work.
When the girl refused, the man grabbed her by the arm and attempted to pull her in the direction of his parked vehicle.
The victim resisted, and a male passerby yelled at the suspect, causing him to flee. The passerby then sat with the victim until her bus arrived.
The suspect was described as a man in his 20s with medium-length brown hair and a moustache.
He was 5’ 5” with a medium build and a teardrop tattoo under his eye. The suspect was wearing a black baseball cap, black shirt, black baggy pants and work boots.
The man’s vehicle was described as a dark red or burgundy early 2000s van similar to a Ford Windstar or Dodge Caravan.
Investigators would still like to speak to the Good Samaritan who intervened and assisted the victim.
“Not only were his actions commendable, we feel he may be able to provide important information to us as a witness,” MacDonald said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225, text 222973 (abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
