Authorities in Strongsville, Ohio say a teenage girl narrowly escaped an attempted abduction on Friday morning while waiting for her school bus.
According to the Strongsville Police Department, the incident happened just before 6:40 a.m. on Fair Road, when the 15-year-old student was suddenly approached by a man who allegedly tried to grab her.
Police said, “she was approached and grabbed by an adult male subject.” The girl immediately broke free, ran back into her home, and alerted her family, who contacted authorities.
Responding officers quickly canvassed the area and located a man about a quarter mile away from the scene. He was later identified as 27-year-old Dominic Anthony Sacco, who police confirmed was “positively identified as the subject that grabbed the juvenile.” He was arrested on abduction charges and is currently in custody.
The news of the attempted abduction sent shockwaves through the community. Strongsville City Schools Superintendent Cameron Ryba released a statement, voicing concern both as an educator and as a parent.
“A Strongsville High School student experienced a serious safety situation when a 27-year-old man approached and grabbed her. Thanks to her courage and the swift response of the Strongsville Police Department, the man was identified and arrested.”
Ryba added: “As both a Superintendent and a father, I am deeply concerned by this incident. I am extremely grateful for the student’s strength in protecting herself and for the immediate actions of the Strongsville Police Department to ensure her safety and to quickly arrest this individual.
As a community, we will continue working together to ensure this remains an isolated incident. Please take a moment to talk with your children, not to create fear, but to help them build awareness and confidence about what to do if they ever feel unsafe.”
Other students in the area expressed fear and anxiety following the disturbing event. One girl told WEWS: “Is some grown man going to come after me and pull me by my backpack and pull me? Like it’s scary. If I am going on a bike ride, if I’m going on a walk, is the same thing going to happen to me?”
Strongsville, located about 20 miles southwest of Cleveland, is generally known as a safe suburban community. However, the attempted abduction has raised concerns about child safety and heightened calls for vigilance.
Police are encouraging families to discuss personal safety with children, stressing the importance of staying alert, avoiding isolated areas, and reporting suspicious behavior immediately.
