9-Year-Old Girl Escapes Alleged Abduction Attempt; Suspect Arrested

A man in Stafford County, Virginia, has been arrested after allegedly attempting to abduct a 9-year-old girl walking home from school earlier this week.

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Embrey Mill subdivision in Stafford Friday afternoon for a report of an attempted abduction, WTVR reported, citing Major Shawn Kimmitz.

The victim was walking home from a bus stop near Basswood Drive when she was approached by a stranger, who asked her for directions, Kimmitz said. The man then allegedly grabbed the child and carried her to his vehicle, according to the official.

The suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Steven Randall Williams of Stafford, allegedly forced the girl into the passenger seat and then closed the door, officials said.

But when the man walked around the car to get into the driver’s side, the "brave young lady was able to open the passenger door and run home," Kimmitz said.

The man then sped off in a black Buick Regal, police said.

"A call like this is all hands on deck for the Stafford Sheriff’s Office," Kimmitz said. "Dispatchers took leads from the public, while deputies and detectives began investigating leads and collecting evidence. Thank you to the public for sharing the photo of the suspect vehicle and providing valuable leads."

Following the initial investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant for Williams and tracked down the suspect.

A SWAT team surrounded Williams' home in the Eastern View subdivision and initially tried to call him outside Friday evening, NBC Washington reported.

The man refused to exit his home, leading authorities to block out the area in a barricade situation, Kimmitz said.

A drone was sent into the home to search for Williams, while a robot was used by the SWAT team to open doors inside the residence, according to Kimmitz. Efforts were made by the Crisis Negotiation Team to communicate with the suspect, but Williams refused to respond, the official said.

"Chemical munitions" launched into the home did not flush out Williams, police said.

It was only when Sgt. B.U. Demirci sent in his K-9, Titan, into the home when the standoff came to an end. The dog found Williams, who was then taken into custody without incident six hours after the standoff began.

Williams was charged with one count of abduction. He is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

The sheriff's office said the suspect had previously served two years in prison for a home invasion and robbery in Stafford.