Attempted child abduction reported

On Thursday, Oct. 27, at 4:35 p.m., the Humboldt Police Department (HPD) was alerted to an attempted child abduction within the city of Humboldt.
According to police, a female juvenile was at the intersection of Sumner Avenue and 9th Street North (Frank Gotch Boulevard) near Bicknell Park, when a newer white four-door passenger car stopped. The male driver reportedly attempted to pull the youth into his vehicle by grabbing her arm, but she escaped and notified police.
The male suspect was described as being in his 50s, about 5-foot, 10-inches in height, clean-shaven with curly hair and sunglasses. He was wearing a blue-hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The police are investigating the incident.
Anyone with any information about the Humboldt incident is asked to call the Humboldt Police Department at (515) 332-2600.
A similar incident was reported earlier in the afternoon in Algona.
According to Algona Police Chief Kendall Pals, a similar situation occurred Thursday afternoon, about one hour before the Humboldt incident.
Pals said the Algona Police Department received a call shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday from an Algona mother who said her daughter and three of her friends were walking from Bryant Elementary School at 121 E. North St., a short distance to an after-school care provider, when a gentleman in his 40s or 50s came up in a nice white car with a black stripe on the bottom, and offered the girls $100 to get in his car. The girls were 7 years old, the police chief said.
The girls fled the scene, as did the suspect. They described him as light-haired. Pals said the youths were not certain if the suspect had facial hair.
Pals said he believes the Algona and Humboldt cases from Thursday are related. He said his police office dispatcher has done some online research, showing similar reported situations occurring in the Marshalltown area (Aug. 11) Cedar Falls/Dike (Aug. 3) and in Earlville (northeast of Cedar Rapids), last May 21.
Pals said the Algona Police Department will continue its investigation and work with other law enforcement agencies on the matter.
Any person with information about the Algona child abduction may contact the Algona Police Department at (515) 295-3515.