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A man attempted to abduct an 8-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish girl from her yard in Waterbury, Connecticut. The suspect was arrested following a swift police response and assistance from local community members. The incident was captured by a closed circuit security camera.
Officers responded to Columbia Boulevard around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area. Security footage showed a black Honda driving down the street, braking intermittently. Moments later, a girl was seen walking nearby.
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Footage of the incident
According to authorities, the suspect, Christopher Rosa, 37, stopped in front of the house, exited his vehicle and opened the trunk, allegedly trying to lure the girl toward him. Sensing danger, she ran home and alerted her parents.
Her father said she told him a man had stopped his car, called for her to come over and then offered for her to get into the trunk. At first, she thought he was a delivery driver.
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"She initially approached because she's used to seeing drivers open their trunks to hand over packages," the father explained. "She only ran when she realized there were no packages in the car — and it looked like he was making space for her in the trunk."
Local business owners immediately mobilized, reviewing security footage overnight to assist police in identifying the suspect. Their efforts led to Rosa's arrest later at his home. He was charged with first-degree stalking, risk of injury to a minor and breach of peace.
Police have asked any witnesses who saw the incident or Rosa in the area Sunday evening to contact the department.