GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A suspect has been charged for allegedly grabbing a 12-year-old girl in Grand Rapids Tuesday morning, attempting to sexually assault her.
The incident happened at around 7 a.m. near Bradford Street and Ball Avenue, according to Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom.
He says the girl was waiting for her school bus when a man approached, dragging her across the street while trying to sexually assault her.
The girl managed to escape and run back home, quickly alerting her mother.
"This was a terrifying situation, potentially tragic," Chief Winstrom said Wednesday. "The motivations of this person, obviously horrific, and were it not for the extremely brave, quick-thinking actions of a 12-year-old girl... we would have been having a very different conversation today."
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GRPD says 25-year-old Marquis Martinez was arrested a short while later for the attempted assault, within walking distance of the bus stop.
"From the start of this, we get information from a 12-year-old girl, and we have to assume that everything she says is true, because there's a potential that there's a monster out here," Chief Winstrom explained. "In this case, everything she said was true. There was a monster out there, and we were able to put them in custody."
He has since been charged with kidnapping and attempted criminal sexual conduct in the second degree.
Chief Winstrom explained that he was located by a Grand Rapids Fire Department crew who were driving in the area. They were aware of what happened with the girl and called in a potentially suspicious-looking man seen in a nearby wooded area.
"These are the worst criminals. ... They're cowardly, I will say that, but heinous, just disgusting acts," Chief Winstrom said.
"This girl came very close to having her life completely changed and possibly taken away from her, because oftentimes these individuals, as I described them, as monsters, it is a sexual act, and then it becomes a violent crime, which has ended many times in murder."
Chief Winstrom credits the girl with not only saving herself but any potential future victims the man may have encountered if he wasn't taken into police custody.
"I'm just so impressed by this girl, the action she took... she helped us put this monster in jail, in prison ... hopefully for the rest of his life."
Those with knowledge related to the incident are encouraged to connect with the department’s Family Services investigators by calling 616-456-3380. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
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