HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A man is behind bars after he allegedly tried to abduct an 11-year-old girl in front of her father.
The fifth-grader was coming home from school in West Harris County on Baker Road near Interstate 10 and Westgreen. Her parents were waiting for her when she was dropped off by her school bus at the hotel where her family is temporarily living.
Her father said he was walking her inside to drop off her books when a man drove up in a black Ford flatbed truck. With her father just a few feet away, the man first called to the girl, then got out of his truck and grabbed her by the arm.
"He just tried to call her over, you know, 'Psst, come here,'" said the girl's mother. "And then he grabbed her and tried to force her into his vehicle."
The girl screamed and ran, and her father chased the man into the hotel. The suspect eventually was caught and wound up handcuffed in the back of a deputy's squad car. Investigators said they found out he was also was a guest at the hotel. He checked in Wednesday, the same day as the little girl's 11th birthday.
Witnesses said his truck has Kentucky license plates.
The girl's mother said she now has advice for other parents.
"Keep a close eye on your children," the mother said. "We were only a few feet away from her. My husband was literally just in front of her. You just never know."
Charles E. Graas, 51, is charged with enticing a child. His bond is set at $5,000.