Shocking Video Shows 13-Year-Old Girl Fighting Off Her Alleged Kidnapper

The surveillance video appears to show the man grabbing the unnamed teen, and then she can be seen breaking free and banging on the door.

July 08, 2019

Surveillance video of 13-year-old girl fighting off alleged abductor [ABC News/screenshot]

By: Catherine Townsend

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UNIONDALE, LONG ISLAND — Shocking surveillance footage has emerged of a brave 13-year-old girl who managed to fight off her attacker during an alleged attempted kidnapping.

Police say Jarrod James, 24, followed the unnamed 13-year-old girl Tuesday afternoon as she walked home from Lawrence Middle School in Hempstead, Long Island in New York.

She told investigators that she noticed the man following her for around half a mile before he started running and allegedly grabbed her from behind as she approached her front door.

The surveillance video appears to show the man grabbing the unnamed teen, and then she can be seen breaking free and banging on the door. A man, later identified as her older brother, then came out of the home and confronted the alleged assailant. She made it inside safely, according to News 12 Long Island.

She later told investigators that her attacker put a hand over her mouth and tried to drag her toward some parked cars, according to PIX 11.

NBC New York reported that James has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, assault in the second degree, attempted kidnapping, and criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, according to Nassau County police.

"This 13-year-old girl was very brave. She fought off this individual. She fought off her attacker," said detective Mike Bitsko, according to WABC-TV. "She did exactly what she had to do ... I'm happy she's doing well."

Jarrod James [Nassau County Police Department]

Callahan Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and costar of In Pursuit With John Walsh agreed, telling ABC News, "This little girl did do everything right. When a child is able to get away, it's because of something that they did that was proactive — kicking, screaming, drawing attention, making noises, exactly what this girl did in this case. She did everything she could to get to get away from this guy."

James was arraigned Thursday, and is reportedly being held in the Nassau County Correctional Center. Attorney information for him was not immediately available, according to NBC News.

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