Police investigating 2 attempted abductions at bus stops

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Metro police are on alert after two attempted abductions at school bus stops on the east side.

The first one happened Monday morning near 11th and Olney.

Police said a 16-year-old girl was walking to her school bus stop when a man grabbed her from behind and pulled her to the ground.

The teenager told police she began screaming and the suspect took off running.

Just 8 minutes later, officers responded to a second attempted abduction just a few blocks away near LaSalle and Nowland.

This time a 14-year-old girl told police a man grabbed her from behind and began dragging her towards a nearby alley.

A neighbor heard the girl screaming and went to help. Police said that's when the suspect took off.

While two crimes took place in the same area just minutes apart, initial reports suggest two men, not one committed the crimes.

"The proximity, we are talking two blocks away. But different clothing, pretty much very different clothing is being described," said Sgt. Matt Mount of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

Police said one suspect was wearing a black hoody with red trim, the other, a gray hoody. One was described as being thin, the other muscular. Both victims thought their assailants were in their 20's.

Neighbors were disgusted to hear what happened.

"I've been in this neighborhood for a while and I'm thinking about getting the heck out of here. It's getting worse and worse," said James Belk.

"It's amazing to me that there aren't parents out here. At least for the older kids, for the younger kids sit over here and there is usually a parent over there," said Bill Cramer.

Police plan to increase patrols in the area where the attempted abductions occurred Tuesday morning. They are also asking parents to accompany their children to the bus stops.

"Even with the officers, with the number of bus stops and number of streets we have to cover it's a lot of area and a lot of different children to try and protect," said IMPD Cmdr. Chad Knecht.

The Monday morning attempted abductions took place in the same east side neighborhood where just last week a teenager was solicited at 11th and Oakland. Also, on November 6, a 15-year-old girl was raped near 12th and Tuxedo as she walked to her school bus stop.

If you have any information about either of these cases please call Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS.