Joliet Kidnapper Snatches Girl, 12, From School Bus Stop: Sheriff

JOLIET — Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley announced Tuesday's arrest of 20-year-old Joliet Township resident Eric A. Fleming Jr. on charges of attempted kidnapping, attempted child abduction and battery. Fleming tried to lure a 12-year-old girl from a school bus stop on Tuesday morning, Kelley's agency noted.

At approximately 7:55 a.m., deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office responded to Luana Road and Dallas Place in Joliet Township for a report of a suspicious person.

“This is every parent's worse nightmare," Sheriff Kelley remarked in Tuesday's press release on Fleming's apprehension. "A total stranger coming up to a child and attempting to impose his will on them. This brave twelve-year-old girl went through something very traumatic, was able to free herself from the clutches of a stranger, and had the wherewithal to be able to provide an accurate description of the offender to deputies.

"Because of her, deputies were able to quickly locate the suspect without incident. I could not be prouder of the work done by responding deputies, detectives, and support staff regarding this case."

While responding, deputies were advised that a 12-year-old girl was standing at a bus stop for the first day of Summer School, when an unknown man approached her, grabbed her and attempted to remove her from that location.

According to Sheriff Kelley's press release, the victim freed herself from the man’s grasp by slipping out of the hoodie she was wearing. She then ran home to tell her parents regarding what happened.

The 12-year-old described the man to her parents, who then dialed 911, Kelley said. Due to the vivid description given by the victim, deputies located him walking in the area.

Fleming was taken into custody without incident and was taken to the Will County Public Safety Complex for questioning. In addition, deputies found the victim’s hoodie laying on the street near the intersection where the incident happened.

According to Kelley, while in custody, Eric Fleming Jr. made incriminating statements to detectives.

The girl was unharmed, the sheriff's office said.

Fleming was booked into his cell at Will County's Jail at 12:40 p.m. He comes from the 100 block of Girard Boulevard. His pretrial detention hearing will be on Wednesday afternoon in Courtroom 202.