By JOSEPH B. NADEAU

WOONSOCKET — A 15-year-old city girl did the right thing by not talking to the man driving past her in a car on the way to the high school Tuesday morning but he still came back, according to Acting Police Chief Eric Croce.

The man Croce described as Hispanic and between 20 to 30 years old was intent enough on engaging the city student to stop his dark-colored car, get out and confront the 15-year-old, Croce said.
“He was able to push her into the vehicle and drive off,” Croce said while relating details police have put together concerning the girl’s brief abduction at Elm and Jervis streets and her subsequent escape from the man’s car.
The man was reported to have driven toward the direction of Wood Avenue, taking several turns in the process, Croce said.
Then as the car neared 500 Wood Ave., traffic caused him to slow down and the victim saw an opportunity, according to Croce.
“She sees her opportunity to get away and acts,” Croce said. The girl was able to exit the vehicle, and while “very shaken” by incident, was otherwise unhurt, Croce said.
The most important thing was that she was able to get free, he said. “She was sharp enough to seize the opportunity and fight for her freedom and now she is safe,” he said.
Police are currently looking for a man with medium complexion, short brown hair, and between 5 foot 6 inches and 5 foot 7 inches tall, who was wearing blue jeans and a black shirt at the time of the incident, according to Croce.
The abduction ride did not continue over into nearby Bellingham as had been reported earlier on Tuesday, Croce said.
And police on Wednesday were still trying to determine whether another incident involving a city girl being approached by a motorist had any connection to Tuesday’s incident, he said.
 Police had that incident reported to them last Friday and Croce said it appears it occurred earlier on Wednesday at the Citizens Elementary School. The 10-year-old girl was offered a ride by the operator of a Gold-colored vehicle but went immediately to her school and was not picked up, he said.
 In Tuesday’s incident, the 15-year-old victim had been walking to school on Elm Street at 8:30 a.m. after school had already started and as a result few other students were in the area as they might have been before the start of school.
Police detectives were continuing to work the case on Wednesday and did have one person that they were hoping to talk with as part of that investigation.
 Croce would only describe that subject as a “person of interest” and noted that police were still trying to locate the person.
 “We like to speak to him but that doesn’t mean he’s done anything. We’re not even sure that the party was involved,” Croce said while noting police would have to speak to the man to determine that.
 In the meantime, Croce said local police were looking for any additional information local residents might have about the incident and can contact the department by calling 766-1212, he said. 
 The abduction prompted school officials to issue immediate warnings to parents as school ended Tuesday and Croce praised the effort School Supt. Maureen Macera initiated to that effect.
 Parents should follow the advice offered by school officials for students to walk together in groups and be aware of the dangers on the street, he said.
“I would tell parents as in any situation always be vigilant and always educate your children about the dangers,” he said.
The abduction case is the first major crime the department has faced since Croce, a State Police Lieutenant, took over the department while a replacement is sought for Police Chief Michael L.A. Houle. Houle retired along with Deputy Chief Richard Dubois last week.
 But while Croce was in charge Wednesday, it was clear he had the Woonsocket Department handling the footwork of the investigation.
“Currently they are out in the field, following up on leads and conducting a thorough investigation and we will see where that takes us,” he said.