ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A 24-year-old Bloomfield Hills man has been charged with attempted kidnapping for allegedly confronting and fondling a 14-year-old girl in Royal Oak.
Royal Oak police said the girl was walking near Normandy and Tonawanda on Oct. 6 just after 4 p.m. when a man in a silver Camaro pulled up next to her and asked if she wanted a ride or some marijuana. The girl declined, kept walking and called her mother on her cell phone, police said.
Moments later, the girl was grabbed from behind by the man, police said.
The girl screamed and told her mother what was happening as she struggled to break free, police said.
The man eventually let her go and took off.
Police said officers had been in the area just before the incident happened and had taken down the Camaro's license plate because it was parked in a "suspicious manner." They were able to quickly identify the suspect from that information as soon as the attempted kidnapping was broadcasted out to officers.
He was found and arrested at his home in Bloomfield Hills. He's been identified as Derek Joseph Wallin.
He is charged with attempted kidnapping and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.