#Bridgeport, Conn. (October 11, 2015) –Today, the Bridgeport Police Department announced an arrest of a suspect in the recent case of an attempted abduction of a juvenile. On October 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. the Bridgeport Police Department arrested Towanna Randall (10/31/1976) of New Haven, Conn.
“This arrest is a testament to the talented and hardworking police officers and detectives in the Bridgeport Police Department,” said Bridgeport Assistant Police Chief James Nardozzi. “To make an arrest in this case so quickly really speaks to the around-the-clock efforts of our police force. I want to thank them for their great work. I would also like to thank the public for the numerous tips that aided our investigation.”
Randall was charged with sexual assault (3rd degree), unlawful restraint (1st degree), and reckless endangerment (2nd degree). Bond was set at $100,000 with a court date set for Tuesday, October 13th. Randall has an extensive criminal record that includes robbery, larceny, and selling hallucinogenic narcotics.
On October 5, 2015 at around 7:15 a.m., police officers responded to a call regarding an attempted abduction near the corner of Boston Ave. and Palisade Ave. Arriving on the scene, police officers found the 17-year-old female victim uninjured.
The victim was walking to school on Boston Ave. when she was approached by a charcoal gray Toyota Corolla. The Toyota is missing the rear bumper leaving the white styrofoam exposed.
The driver of the Toyota lured the victim into her car by offering the victim a ride to school on a cold day. Once the victim was in the car, the driver assaulted the victim. The victim bailed out of the Toyota while it was traveling west on Boston Ave.
The Toyota then made a u-turn at Dover Street and traveled east on Boston Ave. continuing into the town of Stratford, Conn.
The video was captured by Bridgeport’s Safe Corridors Program. The Safe Corridors program was developed jointly by the Board of Education and the Bridgeport Police Department. The program creates blocks-long perimeters around Bridgeport schools that are marked and monitored by police, trained volunteers and cameras. The victim described the suspect as a Hispanic female approximately in her 40’s. The suspect had black hair in a ponytail, freckles on her face, and was wearing a black leather jacket at the time. The Bridgeport Police Department has identified a suspect from New Haven, Conn. and has the vehicle in custody. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Bridgeport Detective Jeff Holtz at (203) 581-5293. (Bridgeport Police press release)