NOVI (WWJ) -- A man who allegedly tried to kidnap and sexually assault a 12-year-old girl inside a grocery store on Sunday is facing multiple charges.
Novi police say the incident took place just after 7:30 p.m. at the Kroger on Grand River Avenue and Beck Road.
Dearborn resident Mathias Mangone, 24, approached a mother and her daughters in an aisle a reportedly grabbed the 12-year-old girl.
The mother fought off Mangone, but he returned on multiple occasions to attempt to abduct the girl.
Customers insider the store called 911 and Mangone was taken into custody.
"Novi is an extremely safe community but this is proof that these things can happen anywhere,” Lt. Jason Meier of the Novi Police Department said in a statement. “We encourage parents to always be cognizant of their children’s whereabouts and teach them from an early age what to do when approached by strangers.”
Mangone was arraigned on Tuesday in 52nd District Court on one count of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration and one count of attempted kidnapping.
He is currently being held on a $1 million bond by Oakland County police.
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