Police: Girls approached at Durham bus stops in 2 suspicious incidents

Authorities said that two girls, ages 11 and 13, were waiting at a school bus stop near the intersection of Eastway Avenue and McNeil Street at about 6:25 a.m. Monday when they saw an occupied brown or champagne colored SUV parked in an undeveloped area of a cul-de-sac with its lights off.

When the girls began to walk away from the SUV, the driver got out of the vehicle and chased them, authorities said. The girls screamed and ran home.

Authorities said the girls were only able to describe the driver as a person in white clothes.

On Wednesday, a 13-year-old girl was by herself at a school bus stop near the intersection of Grant Street and Linwood Avenue at about 6:45 a.m. when two men, one of whom had a knife, walked out of the woods and grabbed her, police said.

The teen was able to fight off the men, who fled when a neighbor came outside and yelled, police said.

The men were described as being black and in their mid-20s to mid-30s. Both were about 5 feet 11 inches tall to 6 feet 2 inches tall and muscular. Authorities said both men were wearing hoodies and one had a chipped tooth and a tattoo on one of his fingers.

Durham police are encouraging parents to accompany their children to their school bus stop and call 911 if they see anything suspicious.

Anybody with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.