GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On Thursday, 25-year-old Marquis Martinez appeared at the 61st District Court after allegedly dragging a 12-year-old girl away from her bus stop near Bradford Street NW and Ball Avenue and attempting to sexually assault her.
Martinez is facing the possibility of life in prison after being arraigned for second-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping.
Court documents describe Martinez grabbing the victim, placing a hand over her mouth and walking her across the street.
The victim told police she ran away when Martinez dropped something, and ran back to her home where her mother called the police.
Martinez was found by police later that day and was taken into custody.
"I come down with my daughter, and we open the front door and there's cops on like, every corner," said Danielle Farre, who lives in a neighborhood near the bus stop. "This is always the worst-case scenario as a mom."
Farre said this ordeal has prompted her to have difficult conversations with her daughter, but ones that she hopes can help keep her daughter safe.
"How do we balance independence that my daughter definitely craves, but also be mindful of obvious dangers and not live in fear?" said Farre. "But also be smart and somewhat proactive, so that we don't have to be reactive."
Grand Rapids Police Officer Ray Erickson said conversations that define strangers and safe adults should begin early on.
"Defining what a trusted adult would be, and then also letting the child know that safe adults aren't going to ask children for help," said Erickson. "If it's a trusted adult, they're going to know to go to another adult for help."
Erickson said parents should teach their children early on to call 911 if they feel they are in danger and how to ask other adults to call 911 as well.
He said in situations where children are approached by strangers at bus stops or other settings, they should try to get away to a place where there are other adults and ask someone to call 911.
Erickson said parents can also set up a "password" with their children, and communicate that word with those who they may have pick up their children from school or other places.
He said this way children can know if an adult is a safe adult who has been sent by their parents.
"When a parent decides to have these conversations with their child, make sure that they're age and developmentally appropriate," said Erickson. "The whole idea behind having these conversations with the child is to not create any undue anxiety or fear. It's to make them more aware and resilient when they're actually out there in the world."
Erickson also encouraged people to take note of what they see in their neighborhood that is out of the ordinary and to call 911 if something seems suspicious.
"When you make these conversations with your child, it's going to help that child be a stronger human, a little bit more independent and wiser in a world that they are still trying to learn."