A bystander rescued a 13-year-old girl who was grabbed by a man on her way to Reynolds Middle School in the city Monday morning, police said.

City police sent out a press release about the incident late Tuesday night after school Principal Stephen R. Sohonyay reported it in a letter to parents earlier in the day.

The student was walking to school in the 100 block of Nevin Street between 7:50 and 8 a.m. when an unknown man approached and grabbed her, police and school officials said.

Apparently, a resident who was near a car in the same block saw something was happening and intervened, pushing the suspect away from the student, Lt. Jarrad Berkihiser said in the release.

He did not identify the bystander.

The girl, who was not injured, then ran to school and reported the incident to the staff, police said.

Officer Dorsey Sumrall and detectives with the city police's Special Investigations Unit are investigating to try to locate the suspect who approached the student, police said.

They also want to talk with the person who intervened on the student's behalf.

Detectives are reviewing Lancaster Community Safety Coalition video footage to see if the suspect or the incident was caught on camera.

So far, officers do not have a good description of the male.

Police have increased patrols in the area and are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to call Detective Randy Zook at 735-3317.

Tipsters also may call Lancaster City/County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913 or anonymously text LANCS plus your message to 847411 (TIP411).
rrobinson@lnpnews.com