UPDATE: Bemidji attempted abduction suspect in custody

Attempted abduction in park(None)
Published: Jun. 27, 2022 at 2:50 PM CDT|Updated: Jun. 30, 2022 at 2:27 PM CDT

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - UPDATE: Detectives say Michael Wayne Petersen, age 21 of Bemidji is the man accused of trying to abduct two young girls earlier this week. Petersen has been arrested and is in custody of the Beltrami County Police.

Bemidji Police were called just before 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 to Cameron Park where two young girls told officers they were walking into the park when they were approached by a younger male who asked them to walk into the woods to look at a snake. The girls told officers they became nervous and began to walk away. Officials state the suspect followed the girls and, at one point, wrapped his arm around one of the girls and tried to pick her up.

Both girls started to scream which caused the suspect to let go and run away.

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