A 43-year-old man has been charged for allegedly abducting a 14-year-old girl on her way to school in Evanston and coercing her into sexual contact, according to police.
On December 3, the girl attempted to take a bus to Evanston Township High School in the 100 block of Chicago Avenue but failed to do so. A man in a gray vehicle approached her and, after discovering she was late for school, offered her a ride.
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According to authorities, once inside the vehicle, the man intimated that he had a knife and compelled the girl to “touch him in a sexual manner.” He then drove to the high school, dropped her off, and left. The girl was not physically wounded and attended school.
Authorities claimed she reported the assault to a school resource officer on December 4, which sparked an inquiry. She provided specifics about the man and his vehicle, which the authorities eventually found on the video footage from her drop-off.
Police identified the suspect as Artrez Drane, 43. On December 8, Chicago police stopped Drane in the 1800 block of West Pratt Boulevard. Evanston detectives responded and arrested him, confiscating the Acura he was driving.
Drane was escorted to the Evanston Police Department, where he allegedly made remarks indicating he was the culprit.
On December 10, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
What’s next: According to police, the crime may not have been isolated.
Drane’s vehicle is described as a gray 2007 Acura RDX SUV with a damaged front passenger door that will not open. He is described as Black, 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, and was wearing a luminous vest at the time of the incident.
Drane appeared at a detention hearing on Thursday and is now detained by the Cook County Sheriff.
Anyone with information regarding this event or similar interactions can contact the Evanston Police Department Detective Bureau at 847-866-5040.
