GR police are investigating reports of attempted kidnapping of 12-year-old girl

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Police are investigating reports of an attempted kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl in Grand Rapids.

The incident allegedly occurred on Thursday, according to Chief Eric Winstrom of the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD).

An out-of-town man reportedly pulled up next to the girl, a Grand Rapids Public Schools student, in a vehicle and asked if she wanted a ride.

“I personally reviewed some of the body-worn camera footage of this incident and heard the honesty, sincerity, and fear in this girl…” Winstrom says.

Chief Winstrom said the driver was identified and officers contacted him.

The investigation of the incident continues.

“The hard part for us is that we have certain criteria that we need to meet to get to probable cause to charge this person,” Winstrom says. “So was this person clearly attempting a kidnapping, or was he heading in that direction, or was he just doing something that wasn’t criminal?”

Chief Winstrom said it is unlikely the general public will be endangered by the incident.

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