Alberta police lay 7 charges in the attempted kidnapping of 13-year-old girl

RED DEER, Alberta — Police say a 29-year-old man from central Alberta is facing seven charges after a 13-year-old girl was grabbed in broad daylight near a Red Deer school earlier this week.

Red Deer RCMP say the charges Alexander Beaulieu faces include attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault and choking with intent.

Investigators say the girl was walking near G.

H. Dawe School on Monday afternoon when she was stopped by a man in a pickup truck who asked to use her phone.

The man then tried to pull the girl into the back of the truck, but she managed to fight him off while being hit, kicked and choked.

Police say the attacker fled with the girl’s phone and was arrested later that evening.

The girl was taken to hospital and treated for non-critical injuries.

Beaulieu, who is from Red Deer, is to appear in court Jan. 2.