Suspect arrested in attempted abduction of 17-year-old girl in Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WABC) -- Bridgeport police have made an arrest in the attempted abduction of a 17-year old girl who was able to escape earlier this week.
Towanna Randall of New Haven was arrested Saturday night.
Randall was charged with third-degree sexual assault, unlawful restraint, and reckless endangerment. Bond was set at $100,000 with a court date set for Tuesday.
Randall has an extensive criminal record that includes robbery, larceny, and selling hallucinogenic narcotics, police say.
The incident happened Monday near the intersection of Boston and Palisade in Bridgeport. Police believe they know why the teenager was targeted.
"It appeared to be a good Samaritan simply offering a ride to the student because it was cold out that morning," Bridgeport Assistant Police Chief James Nardozzi said.
But it suddenly turned violent, the driver assaulting the teenager in the car police say. Fearing for her life, she opened the passenger door and tumbled from the car while it was still moving. Rolling onto the ground, she suffered minor injuries.
All of it was caught on cameras that are part of the city's "Safe Corridors Program."
"Where our children walk to school. We keep them under video surveillance. And once again that video proved invaluable," Nardozzi added.
Investigators believe the video struck a chord in both the Bridgeport and New Haven communities.
"It was information from the community cooperating with the police that led us to discover the exact pinpoint location of the vehicle," Nardozzi said.
Residents in the neighborhood say they feel much better now that Randall is behind bars.
"That's very nerve wracking because you don't know. You walk around, you have kids and send them to school or you send them to the store and you expect them to go andcome back, not to end up in nothing like that," says Brad Rainey.
"I don't want them out there on the streets especially if they live near where I go to school," adds Naomi Lowry.
