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Man faces attempted kidnapping, robbery charges after allegedly stealing from middle schooler

In a Facebook post, Elk Grove police say the suspect approached, grabbed and picked up the victim, before taking the victim's phone and running away.

ELK GROVE, Calif. — Elk Grove police arrested a man who allegedly robbed an Elk Grove middle school student on Thursday.

Police arrested Darius Kelly, 19 of Elk Grove, on robbery and attempted kidnapping charges. Authorities were able to find him around 4:30 p.m. in the area of Laguna Boulevard and Franklin Boulevard.

According to a Facebook post by the Elk Grove Police Department, a student was walking in Elk Grove around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, along the 6600 block of Laguna Park Drive when a person walked up, "grabbed the victim and then picked up the victim." The victim immediately started screaming. That's when the suspect let them go, grabbed the victim's phone and ran to a waiting car that drove away.  

The vehicle was described as a light-colored four-door sedan.

Earlier, an Elk Grove school backtracked after saying one of their students was the victim of an attempted abduction.

After the alleged crime, Mark Benson, principal at Harriet Eddy Middle School, sent a letter to families saying "an unfamiliar adult male attempted to abduct a HEMS student who was walking home from school." 

Xanthi Pinkerton, public information officer with the Elk Grove School District, confirmed the letter was sent home to families, however, the district will send a follow-up letter correcting the initial information to state a student was grabbed, rather than abducted. 

The district goes on to offer tips for students who walk home from school, such as not talking to strangers, walking with a group of friends, and immediately notify a school official or parent if approached. 

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