NJ Girl Dragged Screaming Down Street In Attempted Kidnapping As Onlookers Watch

NORTH BERGEN, NJ — A man tried to kidnap a girl on a busy North Bergen street last week and held her for two minutes before anyone intervened, officials said.

Finally, a group of four strangers worked together to save the girl, police said.

Roberto Canavalan, 35, of North Bergen, was charged with kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, said North Bergen police this week.

On April 23, around 3:15 p.m., the North Bergen Police Department was contacted about a man "holding and dragging a young girl, refusing to let go of her," police said.

Police found the pair at 79th Street and Bergenline Avenue, not far from the border between Hudson and Bergen counties.

The 17-year-old victim and several witnesses told police that she was walking along Bergenline Avenue, a busy thoroughfare in Hudson County, and a man was walking toward her.

The man ran toward her, grabbed her, and pulled her "several feet away from Bergenline Avenue in an apparent attempt to abduct her," police said.

He was able to hold her for approximately two minutes as she struggled to get away, police said.

Finally, three nurses from a local doctor’s office, along with a man passing by, heard her crying for help. The four worked together to pull the girl away from Canavalan, police said in a Facebook post.

Police arrested Canavalan when witnesses pointed him out, police said.

A report on ABC said that at least four men were seen on surveillance video walking by without helping the girl, until the nurses and man intervened.

The township of North Bergen said they will not release the video. But they said anyone else who has video can submit it to assist with the investigation.

Canavalan was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he is being held to await his first court appearance, a spokesperson for the police said on Thursday.

If anyone was in the area and witnessed the incident or has cell phone video of the crime, they are encouraged to reach out to North Bergen detectives at 201-392-2100 or tips@northbergenpd.com.