Third attack of month presses issue of students’ safety on way to, from schools

Jace Radke

Monday, March 29, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

With classes out in Clark County this week for spring break, the daily flow of students to and from their schools is also on hiatus, which could be a relief for some valley parents.

The walks to school, bus stops and home have become one more thing for parents to worry about after three children were kidnapped between their schools and homes this month.

The latest incident happened Friday, when a 13-year-old girl was taken within sight of her bus stop, driven to an unknown location and sexually assaulted.

The girl was walking to her bus stop near Lone Mountain and Cimarron roads about 7:15 a.m. when a man with a gun forced her into a car, police said. After the assault the girl was released in the 2700 block of East Craig Road.

"When something like this happens to adults it's bad enough, but for it to happen to children is horrific," School Board member Susan Brager said.

The abduction occurred as some of the girl's classmates from Molasky Middle School, 7801 W. Gilmore Ave., watched. They ran to a nearby house and called police.

School district spokesman Ray Willis said patrols by school police will be beefed up in the area where the attack occurred, which is standard procedure.

The district has about 110 officers -- two at each high school, six mobile officers for the district's 120 elementary schools and other officers used where they are needed.

The district also provides hall monitors on campus to ensure the safety of children while they are at school, but the recent attacks have taken place off campus.

On March 17, a 16-year-old girl was kidnapped after being dropped off across from Western High School at 7:30 a.m. The suspect forced the girl to take him to her house, which he robbed of $12 before leaving.

On March 13, a 10-year-old girl was abducted by a gunman about 3:20 p.m. while passing Estes Park on her way home from Estes McDoniel Elementary School in Henderson. The man forced the girl to walk along Foxridge Circle, where he forced her into a landscape planter and removed her shoes and pants.

The girl was able to escape when she kicked the man in the groin.

"This is something that the community, police and the district need to work together on," Brager said. "It takes everyone's eyes and ears to help protect our children.

"I know when I pick up my kids, I'm watching out for the other kids, too, and that's something that the parents who can pick up their kids need to do."

Brager also said she would like to look into school police and Metro Police working together to create a higher density of officers around schools during the times that students are arriving and leaving.

When incidents like Friday's happen, the district takes steps to notify parents at the affected school and district, board chairwoman Ruth Johnson said. Usually a letter is sent home with students.

Police are still looking for suspects in each kidnapping, and at this point do not believe the incidents are related.

The suspect in Friday's kidnapping and sexual assault is described as a white man about 34 years old. He is believed to be about 6 feet 1 inches tall, 235 pounds, has dirty blond hair and a beard.

The suspect in the March 17 kidnap and robbery is described as a black man between 20 and 30, about 5 feet 11 and 160 pounds.

The suspect in the March 13 kidnap and attempted sexual assault is described as a white man, 6 feet 1 and thin, with dirty blond hair, a pockmarked face and sunglasses.

Anyone with any information on any of these crimes is asked to call police at 229-3421, or Secret Witness at 385-5555.