Man charged with trying to snatch girl off North Philadelphia street

A man has been charged with trying to abduct a young girl outside a Hunting Park corner store.

Police said this afternoon that 24-year-old Jose Lewis Ferreira is charged in the attempted abduction, with occurred on the 3700 block of North 5th Street shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the 9-year-old girl was walking on the street near the store when Ferreira told her to come toward him. He then grabbed the girl's arm, police said.

The child yelled and broke free, and ran into the store after the incident. Witnesses told television news outlets that she was crying and screaming. Neighbors then chased after the man.

The victim was taken to the Special Victims Unit, and police transported the suspect from the scene.

The girl told police she did not know Ferreira before the incident.

Ferreira is facing charges that include kidnapping, abduction, interfering with the custody of a minor, false imprisonment, simple assault and other offenses.