MCPD looking for man accused of trying to kidnap girl while impersonating a police officer

MANASSAS, Va. — The Manassas City Police Department (MCPD) is looking for a man accused of impersonating a police officer and attempting to kidnap a girl Thursday morning.

Police say they received a call at 8:39 a.m. about a young girl in distress near the intersection of Quarry Road and Zebedee Street. The girl told officers an unknown man driving a red Jeep SUV — possibly a Patriot or Commander — approached her as she was walking to school in the 9400 block of Clover Hill Road. He reportedly told her he was a police officer and asked the girl to get in his car. 

Police say the man then got out of the vehicle and grabbed the girl's arm before putting her into the front passenger seat and driving down Clover Hill Road. He allegedly drove her through Wellington Road and Fairview Avenue to Quarry Road. The girl reportedly got out of the car at that point. 

According to MCPD, the suspect is a man around 40 years old. He reportedly has black hair and a beard. No weapons were involved in the attempted kidnapping, police say. MCPD says it plans to increase patrols during school hours as a precaution.

Police are asking the public to practice caution and vigilance if facing suspicious people or vehicles, and to contact law enforcement right away.