A high school student said she was grabbed by an older man in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on Monday, police said.
The Shrewsbury High School student had been dropped off the late bus at Stoney Hill Road and was walking on a path toward Cherry Hill with another student when the unknown man grabbed her, Shrewsbury Public Schools Superintendent Joe Sawyer told members of the community Tuesday morning.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
 |
>Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. |
Shrewsbury police said the student described the man as being in his 50s or 60s, and that he let her go and fled when she reacted.
Officers searched the area by drone and using police dogs, but didn't find anyone, police said. They are increasing patrols in the area to keep everyone safe and asked anyone with information to contact them at 508-841-8577.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our >News Headlines newsletter.
Sawyer urged parents to remind their children about how to stay safe around strangers.
"I wanted to make you aware of this situation directly, and ask that families remind your children about your rules regarding safety and strangers and to report anything unusual to you or an adult at school immediately," he said in a statement.
Neighbors told NBC10 Boston the girl is doing OK, though they could hear her screaming from the wooded path, called The Secret Garden.
"It's a scary situation," said Sujid Debnath, who lives nearby.
Richard Daverio also lives in the area and captured the quick police response on his surveillance camera.
"It's concerning, obviously," he said. "This is a great neighborhood, both my children — my son and daughter, who are both in their 30s — grew up here, went to Shrewsbury schools, and the buses and everything, and nothing like this has ever happened here."
