Conflicting reports about attack on child
Police say the mother of a child who witnesses claim was almost abducted near St. Ignatius school on Monday afternoon has declined to file a formal report or press charges. Channel Seven News spoke with a witness, who declined to be identified on camera, that on Wednesday he and a co-worker stopped a man who was struggling with a child in an apparent attempt to kidnap her. Today, however, the “Reporter” newspaper said a witness told them the man was in the bushes with the child, with his pants down, trying to rape her. Police Press Officer Christie Castillo says that although neither the child’s family or witnesses from the area made any official report, police detained a suspect. However, Castillo says when the child’s mother did come in to police she told Inspector Mario Vernon of C.I.B. that she did not want any court action. She did not give any reason for her decision. Castillo says the little girl reported to the police, only that the man “picked her up and then put her down again.” She says the police do not have any information to indicate, from the child or anyone who claims to be a witness, that there was an attempted rape in the bushes. They are urging anyone with information to come forward.