9-Year-Old Berkeley Girl Stalked In Possible Attempted Abduction

BERKELEY (CBS SF) -- Police in Berkeley have issued an advisory after a possible attempted child abduction of an elementary-school student earlier this week, according to authorities.

The police advisory stated that the incident being investigated happened Monday morning at about 8 a.m. on 2900 block of Harper Street.

A nine-year-old girl who was on her way to the Malcolm X Elementary School reported that a green minivan pulled into a driveway in front of her on Harper Street.  The student told police that as she passed the van, a man emerged from the front passenger seat who she described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s, approximately five feet, nine inches tall with a thin build and dark straight hair.

The girl told police that she felt as though she was being followed. When she looked back, she saw the van's passenger walking right behind her.  She then felt a "push" on her backpack which caused her to stumble, so she ran.

The student safely made it to school.  Later that evening, she told her mother what happened. The family notified the school the following day.

The girl described the driver of the van as a black male adult, in his 20s but possibly older, with shoulder-length dreadlocks.

Police said it was still unclear if Monday's incident is related to a series of attempted abductions in Berkeley dating back the fall of 2015 which also involved a green minivan.

Detectives with the Berkeley Police Department are canvassing the neighborhood looking for potential witnesses or similar vehicles.

Police encourage the public to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior and to contact the Berkeley Police Department at (510) 981-5900 if they have witnessed this event or have additional information.