Man arrested in attempted abduction of girl, 14, inside Willow Grove Park Mall: police
ABGINTON, Pa. - A man who police say "should not have been on the street" was arrested less than 24-hours after he allegedly tried to abduct a teenage girl at a Pennsylvania mall.
Khalilh Evans, 44, is accused of approaching a 14-year-old girl near the escalators at Willow Grove Mall Wednesday night and forcibly trying to lead her across the mall.
Investigators say Evans contacted his attorney in Media, Delaware County and arranged to turn himself in on Thursday. Police believe Evans attempted similar crimes with other young women.
"This is the type of crime where the hair on your back stands up," Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy said. "Only god knows what their intentions were, we can only assume the worst."
(Abington Township Police)
Chief Molloy held up Evans' 28-page rap sheet during a Thursday afternoon press conference that he said includes charges for weapons, assault and threats.
Investigators say the 14-year-old victim encountered Evans and another man around 7 p.m. Wednesday near the escalators in Willow Grove Mall. Evans allegedly introduced himself as Alex, and extended his arm as if to escort her.
When the teen told the men that she was underage, investigators say Evans grabbed the girl and pinned her arm underneath his. As he lead the girl across the mall, police say she managed to escape and yell for help which caused several bystanders to step in.
Police shared photos of the two men, which prompted several other young women who claimed they were also approached by the men to come forward. Police say they are still trying to understand the second man's involvement in the incident, and he is not currently facing charges.
Evans has been charged with False Imprisonment of a Minor and two counts of harassment, his bail was set at $25k.
Chief Molloy called Evans "an individual who should not have been on the street," and called out the "failed policies in Philadelphia."
"He's coming to Montgomery County now, I think some of the failed policies in Philadelphia with the District Attorney's Office where it's somewhat of a revolving door where dangerous felons are let back on the street to prey upon our children," he said.