This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Police resumed canvassing a South Salt Lake neighborhood on Thursday in hopes of locating a man who apparently tried to abduct a 12-year-old girl off the street.
"We definitely are not letting up on this investigation," said South Salt Lake police Sgt. Gary Keller. "We're working the case full-bore."
The incident occurred about 7 p.m. Wednesday as the girl was walking home near 500 East and Sunset Avenue.
"She was approached by an adult male with scruffy, shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark coat and blue jeans," Keller said. "The man grabbed her by the forearms and tried to pull her toward him, but she broke loose and literally ran out of her shoes to get away."
About two blocks later, the barefoot, hysterical girl was spotted running by a South Salt Lake police officer. He stopped, learned of the attack and immediately called in other city and Unified Police Department officers to set up a containment area.
A police dog also was dispatched to the location where the girl's shoes were found, but rainfall washed away any useful scents.
The man remained at large Thursday. Detectives were planning to meet again with the girl and possibly draw a composite sketch, Keller said.
Keller said the girl was "physically OK, but mentally shaken" Wednesday night, but detectives hoped she would be able to provide more details on Thursday.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call South Salt Lake police at 801-840-4000.
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