25-year-old Milwaukee man arrested in connection with attempted abduction of seven-year-old girl

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police say thanks to tips from the public -- they have been able to arrest a 25-year-old Milwaukee man in connection with the attempted abduction of a seven-year-old girl.

The attempted abduction happened on Thursday afternoon, July 30th near 17th and Highland.

The suspect was taken into custody on Saturday, August 1st in the 100 block of E. Concordia Avenue.

This attempted abduction was captured via surveillance cameras.

The child was playing in front of her residence when she was approached by a man who attempted to talk the child into coming with him. When the child refused, the man attempted to pick her up, but the child was able to resist his efforts and run away.

Surveillance video shows attempted abduction of seven-year-old girl

The child returned home and her mother contacted Milwaukee police.

The little girl wasn't injured -- but she's shaken up by what happened. This, as neighbors are praising her for her bravery.

A mother of two, who didn't want to be identified, told FOX6 News she was horrified to learn the attempted abduction occurred near where she teaches.

"I was very scared. A little freaked out," the woman said.

On Friday morning, she had a very important conversation with her students before their daily trip to the park.

"It was a little scary having to break that news to our students -- but it was very important they knew how to conduct themselves outside of a school building," the woman said.

Attempted abduction near 17th and Highland

Her message to her students? Don't talk to strangers.

Sheila West lives in the area, and says what happened has her on edge.

"It's just scary. We got to watch our kids more and more and more. They can't even play out here in the playground. Here comes somebody want to grab our kids and that's wrong. I hope they catch him real, real, real soon. Real soon," West said.

The mother of the seven-year-old girl who was nearly abducted on Thursday afternoon says she's taught her young daughter what to do if she's approached by a stranger.

"I tell her every day -- 'This is what you do if somebody comes. You better kick. You better bite. You better do something,'" the girl's mother told FOX6 News.

This mother's advice came in handy for the little girl on Thursday afternoon as she was playing in the courtyard outside her apartment building.

"I'm still shocked. Like, why my baby? She said he didn`t touch her in the wrong place or nothing. He just was like -- she said he grabbed her, cradled her and tried to run with her. I don't even want her outside anymore like, at all!" the girl's mother said.

The girl's mother says she's thankful her daughter is doing okay, and that she's safe.

"She`s doing fine. She`s still a little shook up or whatever, but she's doing fine. She`s a survivor -- that`s what she is," the girl's mother said.

MPD will present charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this story.