A tough 13-year-old thwarted a sicko’s attempt to grab her on her way home from a Long Island middle school, police said Wednesday.
The teen first spotted the man — with whom she had no prior interaction — at approximately 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, while she was walking home from Lawrence Road Middle School in Hempstead, where she is a student attending a summer program, according to Nassau County authorities and school officials.
He was standing in the school’s parking lot, then followed her for more than half a mile onto Adams Street, where he gave chase as she approached her home, police said.
The man grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with his hand — but the teenager resisted and was able to free herself.
But he took hold of her again, and tried to drag her behind parked cars, but she persisted and was able to fight him off.
The victim ran into her home, and the suspect ran off towards Nassau Road, authorities said.
Police described him as being approximately 5-foot-5 with a thin build. He was last seen wearing camouflage pants and a blue shirt emblazoned with “NYC” and “AERO.”
Dean of Academic Services Dr. Andrea Silverstein said the school is working closely with authorities for information about the suspect, who is not familiar to administrators and has not previously been reported on the property.
Officials have spoken to the students “about being mindful of their surroundings and people around them,” Silverstein added, noting that calls were made to all parents within the school district.