A 38-year-old man has been arrested and remained in custody on Wednesday morning following an incident in which two young girls were allegedly grabbed by a suspect wearing one shoe and carrying a silver suitcase. Cleveland Police confirmed the arrest on Tuesday night.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Allendale Road in Ormesby, near Middlesbrough, at around 3:45 PM on Monday. The suspect, described as a white male of slim build wearing black or dark clothing, reportedly approached two girls aged five and six. According to a police spokesperson, he tried to grab them by the wrist. When the girls refused, the man attempted to entice them, but they managed to run away.
Police Response
Officers conducted extensive inquiries, including speaking with the victims, the local school, reviewing CCTV footage, and engaging with the local community. Acting Sergeant Donnelly from the Greater Eston Neighbourhood Team acknowledged the concern the incident caused, stating: "This incident will understandably have caused some concern for our communities. We have carried out a number of inquiries already, including speaking with the victims, the local school, CCTV inquiries and having officers speaking to people in the local area."
The suspect was described as carrying a silver suitcase and wearing only one shoe. The arrested man is currently in custody as investigations continue.
