No bail for man who tried to kidnap girl, praise for Good Samaritans
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A Shelby Township man is being held without bail following his arraignment Thursday in connection with two separate attempted kidnappings of two girls in Macomb County.
Endi Bala, 23, is charged with the incidents, which occurred about an hour apart on Tuesday in Clinton Township and Sterling Heights, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.
Both attempts were thwarted by witnesses who were praised by authorities and described as good Samaritans and “heroes.” The girls are 7 and 15 years old, according to the press release.
Bala was arraigned in two different district courts. He is charged with attempted false imprisonment (a felony punishable by five years) and assault (a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days) in connection with the Clinton Township incident. He is also charged with kidnapping-child enticement (a life felony); reckless driving (a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days) and assault (a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days) in connection with the Sterling Heights incident, the news release said.
More: Police in Clinton Township, Sterling Heights investigate attempted kidnappings
He was held on $2 million bail during his arraignment in 41B District Court in Clinton Township. Bala was held without bail in the county jail during his arraignment in 41A District Court in Sterling Heights on the attempted kidnapping charge in that city.
The prosecutor’s press release states that the Clinton Township District Court has ordered Bala to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
No attorney was listed for Bala in online court records for either court. He was represented by an unidentified public defender at his arraignments, and a public defender’s brief was filed in both courts, according to court records, which showed he pleaded not guilty in both courts.
Witnesses come to girl’s aid
Clinton Township police said around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday that officers were dispatched to the area of Clinton River Road, east of Hayes Road, to respond to a report of an assault. During the dispatch, officers were told that a person was attempting to force another person into a vehicle, according to a news release from township police Wednesday.
Officers learned that a 15-year-old township girl was traveling in the area and was forcibly dragged into a vehicle driven by a male suspect. The suspect allegedly grabbed her by the head and neck and forced her into the back of the vehicle through the rear driver’s door, the police news release said.
It states that a resident of the community who witnessed the incident intervened, allowing the victim to escape and alert other residents who called 911. The suspect fled in the vehicle, which police described as a white sedan.
Police learned of a second kidnapping attempt in neighboring Sterling Heights and that an arrest had been made.
The incident in Sterling Heights, which occurred about an hour later, occurred at the north entrance to Clinton River Park, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office on Wednesday.
The man is accused of picking up a 7-year-old girl from her bike, putting her in his car and attempting to leave the park. A passerby surrounded the suspect’s vehicle and the girl was able to escape, the news release said.
“Absolute HEROES,” according to the police’s Facebook post
On Thursday, Sterling Heights police posted a video of the incident on their Facebook page. The Facebook post states that while the man tried to drive away with the girl, the girl’s aunt ran to the driver’s window, reached in and grabbed the steering wheel to prevent the man from driving away.
A local resident, Scott VanLuven, was driving by and saw what was happening, according to the police Facebook post. It says VanLuven is a member of the Sterling Heights Citizens Patrol, a volunteer citizen group that “helps be the eyes and ears of our police department.” He was on his way home from work and not on patrol when he noticed a woman hanging out the driver’s side of the moving car, according to the Facebook post.
“Scott quickly turned around and blocked the vehicle from leaving the park. Scott got out of his truck, removed the suspect from the vehicle and did not let him drive away until police arrived on the scene,” the police Facebook post said.
“Who knows what would have happened to the poor child if the little girl’s aunt and Scott (VanLuven) hadn’t acted so quickly. These people are absolute HEROES and we are so (grateful) that they acted so quickly!”
The police station said: “These incidents occurred in the middle of the day, and in our case right next to a busy road in the open air. Please look out for each other and keep our communities strong!”
District Attorney Peter Lucido said in his office’s press release on Thursday: “As a community, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the brave Good Samaritans who did not hesitate to step in and risk their own safety to save these young girls. Their quick actions not only prevented a crime, but also ensured that these brave girls were able to return home safely. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the person responsible for this horrific act is brought to justice.”
His office’s press release on the Clinton Township District Court case said Bala must wear a steel shackle if he posts bail and is released in that case, be under house arrest, have no contact with the victims or anyone under 18, possess no weapons and surrender his passport to township police.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for August 27 in District Court in Clinton Township. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for the next day in Sterling Heights District Court.
Contact Christina Hall: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.
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