A 21-year-old man accused of briefly abducting a 12-year-old girl in Elgin was charged Friday afternoon with felony aggravated kidnapping, police said.
Elgin police arrested Pedro Guzman at his home in the 100 block of South Gifford Place in Elgin Thursday. He was charged Friday afternoon after the victim identified him in a police lineup, according to reports.
The girl was walking out of Channing Park with her 11-year-old sister on March 16 when a man got out of an older Buick Skylark on Henry Street, grabbed the older girl and pulled her into the idling car, police said. The victim kicked at the man and screamed, attracting the attention of witnesses, who called police about 11:30 a.m., according to reports.
“He actually had her half in and half out of the car,” said police spokesman Lt. Paul McCurtain. “She was fighting all the way.”
After being driven several blocks, the girl was released at Illinois Avenue and Laurel Street, authorities said.
Police located the car in the 600 block of St. Charles Street within 15 minutes.
“He saw the squad cars coming into the area and abandoned it and took off on foot,” said McCurtain, who added that the car had been loaned to the suspect.
Guzman is scheduled to appear at a bond hearing at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Elgin branch of Kane County Circuit Court. If convicted, Guzman could face a prison term of 6 to 30 years.
