Harford County authorities are asking the public to help them find a man who grabbed a 16-year-old girl working at a Churchville snowball stand and tried to force her to leave the stand.
The incident occurred more than three weeks ago, but the Harford County Sheriff?s Office did not release any information to the public about it until Tuesday.
Bob Thomas, a spokesman for the office, said he put out a news release as soon as he heard about the incident. But it took several weeks for the report to work its way through the chain of command and reach his office. But he emphasized that the incident had been under active investigation since it happened, shortly before 8 p.m. Aug. 27.
Susan Smith Howley, the public policy director for The National Center for Victims of Crime in D.C., said she could not comment on a specific case. However, she said that immediate public notice is typically warranted when it serves a public safety purpose ? and notice of an attempted stranger abduction would generally fall into that category.
Harford authorities said the man purchased a snowball from the girl before grabbing her. When she wouldn?t go with him, he fled in a Honda Odyssey minivan.
“Although shaken by the suspect?s actions, the victim was not seriously injured,” the news release said.
The suspect was described as a white man, about 70 years old, 5-feet 10 inches tall, about 200 pounds, witha potbelly, white hair worn in a comb-over style, a droopy left eye and left lower lip and a large, bulbous nose.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Harford County Child Advocacy Center at 410-638-3294.
Harford County Crime Solvers is offering a reward of $1,000 for tips that lead to the man?s arrest. To be eligible for the reward, call 888-540-TIPS. Callers do not have to give their names or appear in court.
prosenberg@baltimoreexaminer.com
