Teen approached by strange man on road thought no one would save her—until a passerby's bold response averted disaster
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
The concept of “See something, say something” is more powerful than one can imagine. Even calling out something aloud can make a difference in averting disaster and saving a life. An unidentified stranger is receiving applause for intervening after noticing a suspicious man approaching a young girl, KLON NOW reported. The 12-year-old was caught off guard by the man, identified as Gary Neverve and despite trying to get away from him, failed. A woman noted what the man did, called him out and ensured that the girl was safe.
According to UNICEF, around 90 million children alive have experienced sexual assault or violence. 650 million girls and women faced sexual violence as children. The risk is greater for youngsters in fragile settings. The girl was reportedly walking home from a store near South 34th Street and Plantation Drive, Lincoln, when the man approached her. She guessed he might be suspicious and tried to get away from him, but he persisted in interacting with her. Neverve first asked for the girl’s name and age, which she ignored. However, he followed her and touched her hair before touching her body inappropriately.
To the girl’s luck, the good Samaritan was passing by and noticed the man mistreating the victim. She immediately jumped into action by warning him to leave her alone. The woman then ensured the girl was fine and even safely walked her home. The authorities arrested the man and he has been charged with third-degree sexual assault. The woman’s intervention made a life-saving difference in the young girl’s life. One cannot imagine what might have happened had she not stopped the man when she did. The police are on the lookout for the woman. Being at the right place at the right time won’t help if the person refuses to take action or at least call out the problem.
In a similar instance, a man named Cameron Cook decided to speak up after noticing a creepy shopper hovering over a young girl, according to CBS News. He was with his mom shopping at Target when he saw the man staring unusually at the youngster. He knew something was wrong and immediately decided to act. The man started throwing himself at the young girl and Cook immediately stepped in. "I went up to him, I was like, 'Excuse me, sir, do you know her?' And then the first thing he said was, 'I'm not a pervert, I'm not a pervert.' I was like, 'I didn't ask you that, sir,'" Cook recalled.
After the subtle argument, Cook asked the man to leave the store. He grumbled but eventually left. The girl’s mom was at the store but was in the restroom and was grateful that someone came to her daughter's aid. The staff checked the surveillance video and handed it over to the authorities. Being an older brother himself, Cook was glad that he was able to look out for the girl. "I'm just happy I was there to protect her because you never know what could have gone on,” he noted.
If you are being subjected to sexual assault, or know of anyone who is, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453