Bystanders saw a man dragging a 15-year-old at a gas station — their quick action stopped a kidnapping
Every single action taken at the right time can make a powerful difference in the outcome of a situation. Bystanders often witness many unusual, strange, or suspicious scenarios, and there are ample examples where their intervention saved the day. Strangers on Clearwater Circle managed to pull off a rescue just in time to save the life of a 15-year-old girl, FOX 13 reported. They spotted a terrifying scene and immediately realized the man was attempting to kidnap her. Without hesitation, they took the initiative to jump into action and collectively managed to save the teen's life.
In a post shared by the Clearwater Police Department, it was revealed that a 15-year-old runaway teen was seen struggling at the hands of a man, identified as Erik Butler. A frightening scene made passersby jump into action. The man was dragging her from the circle and people immediately rushed towards her. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 34% of children in attempted abductions were 10–14 years old. While abductions are more common among children, even teenagers are targeted, often involving sexual components, as per the source's official website.
“As officers were on their way, bystanders intervened and the girl was able to break away from the suspect,” the post mentioned. Though Butler fled at the time, authorities were able to locate and arrest him. It was a moment’s decision whether to respond after seeing something so terrible and the people came through with integrity to pull off the rescue before the cops arrived or before it was too late. The man has been taken to Pinellas County Jail with a kidnapping charge. On further investigation, the officers also charged him with “possession of cocaine and paraphernalia, exposure of sexual organs and resisting arrest without violence.”
Just a second or a minute of action can make a difference. In a similar instance, a 12-year-old girl named Amy Martinez was targeted in an attempted kidnapping and the astute and firm actions of a passerby saved her, ABC 13 reported. The little girl was confronted by a suspicious woman, who grabbed her and forced her to walk along. A mom, who was dropping off her child, noticed Martinez’s discomfort and rolled down her window to ask if she was okay. "Amy was kind of struggling to get away, so then those were the signs that something wasn't right,” she recalled.
When the girl responded “no,” the woman knew she didn’t have much time to act. She made up a foolproof plan on the spot to save her. She asserted that she was the child’s mother and that the stranger should let her go. Her confident front left the suspect with no option but to leave the girl alone. Martinez quickly got into the mom’s car and was taken safely to school. Thanking her for her immediate response, the little girl said, “I want to thank you for saving my life and you’re my hero.” However, the good Samaritan wanted no titles or credit. She was just doing her job as a human being and parent. "You're a parent, you see somebody else's child in danger, automatically you react as if it were yours," she remarked.
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453