An 11-year-old girl in Washington is being praised for her quick thinking and bravery after police say she fought off a man who tried to kidnap her — using self-defense skills that helped her escape.
The incident happened Monday, Dec. 15, in Vancouver, just north of Portland, Oregon. According to multiple local reports, the girl had been playing soccer with friends and was walking home around 5:30 p.m. when the encounter unfolded.
Court records say a man wearing a ski mask approached the child, grabbed her by the elbow, and told her, “Come here, little girl.” The girl later told police she felt uncomfortable as soon as she saw the masked man walking toward her.
When she screamed for help, the man allegedly told her to “shut up” and took her cell phone so she couldn’t call anyone. Police say he continued to grip her arm tightly as she tried to pull away.
That’s when the girl made a split-second decision.
According to investigators, she kicked the man in the groin, broke free, and ran to a friend’s nearby apartment, where she called for help. Officers noted that when they arrived, the girl still had visible red marks on her wrists.
The Vancouver Police Department launched an immediate search and arrested 31-year-old Jerson Hartman later that same day. Hartman, who is from Twin Falls, Idaho, was booked on charges of second-degree attempted kidnapping and second-degree attempted robbery.
Police say the girl later identified Hartman as the man who attacked her.
Hartman has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently being held on $50,000 bail. Court records show he is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 20, with a trial date set for Feb. 9.
Authorities credited the child’s awareness and decisive actions with preventing a potentially far more serious outcome. The case remains under investigation.
