Suspect Caught in Attempted Teen Abduction Case in Connecticut
Oct. 5, a girl was walking to school when a driver offered her a ride.
— -- A woman accused of trying to abduct a teenage girl in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has been arrested, nearly one week after the girl bailed out of the suspect's moving car to escape.
The suspect, Towanna Randall, 38, of New Haven, was arrested Saturday night, the Bridgeport Police Department announced today.
On Oct. 5, a 17-year-old girl was walking to school when a driver pulled up and offered her a ride, police sad.
The driver assaulted the girl in the car, police said.
The teen "bailed out" of the car as it was moving and successfully escaped, police said. The teen wasn't injured, police said.
Randall has been charged with sexual assault, unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment, police said. Her past criminal record includes robbery, larceny and selling hallucinogenic narcotics, according to police.
Randall's bond was set at $100,000. She is expected to appear in court Oct. 13.
Bridgeport Assistant Police Chief James Nardozzi credited Randall's quick arrest "to the talented and hardworking police officers and detectives in the Bridgeport Police Department."
"To make an arrest in this case so quickly really speaks to the around-the-clock efforts of our police force," he said.
It was unclear whether Randall has an attorney.