Teen runs away from attempted kidnapping while on way to southeast Charlotte school

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A teenager said she was walking on the sidewalk in southeast Charlotte when a man demanded she get into his car.

Carla Torres said she was on her way to East Mecklenburg High School on Feb. 1 when the driver of a white vehicle attempted to kidnap her along Conference Drive.

"He was like, ‘Hey, get in the car,’ and I was like, ‘No thank you. I can walk. He asked me this about four times,” Torres said.

Torres said the man followed her, and then when she got in front of a nearby beauty supply store, he got out of the car to convince her to get in.

"I was like, ‘Oh no, please don't kidnap me. I hope nothing bad happens to me,’” Torres said.

She said she darted straight toward the school.

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"Walked faster, basically speed walking, to the school faster because I was almost there,” Torres said.

She immediately reported the incident to school officials.

Those in the neighborhood are now on alert.

Dorothy, who didn’t want her last name identified, is a mother of two who said the lesson of stranger danger is one she continues to teach to her kids.

"He's always asking me to walk to school, and we're very hesitant, so that actually worries me more,” she said. "I tell them (my children) if it feels wrong, it's definitely wrong. If you don't know the person, it's OK not to talk to every single person."

Torres said she learned an important safety lesson herself.

"I'll probably walk with my cousin or something, but I for sure won't walk alone anymore,” she said.

Police have not released any additional information about the suspect.

No arrests have been made.

Cox Media Group