Shelby Twp. man in court for attempted kidnapping of two girls

(WXYZ) — A 23-year-old Shelby Township man was arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges related to the alleged attempted kidnapping of two girls, one in Clinton Township and one in Sterling Heights.

Endi Bala is facing attempted false imprisonment and assault in connection with the incident in Clinton Township.

VIDEO: Man in court for alleged attempted kidnapping in Sterling Heights

Man in court for attempted kidnapping in Sterling Heights

He also faces the following charges in connection with the Sterling Heights incident: kidnapping-child enticement, reckless driving and assault.

In Clinton Township, Bala's bail was set at $2 million, while he was denied bail in the Sterling Heights case.

The first incident occurred in Clinton Township on Clinton River Road between Hayes and Garfield.

EXTENDED INTERVIEW: “The girl would have been dead.” Man intervenes to save girl from attempted kidnapping

EXTENDED INTERVIEW: “The girl would have been dead.” Man intervenes to save girl from attempted kidnapping

Paul Billiter, an alert and quick-witted stranger, rescued the 15-year-old girl. He said he was working in the garden when he saw her pass by. A moment later, he said, a car accelerated and made a U-turn.

Billiter said that was suspicious enough. But he and other neighbors told 7 News Detroit that they then heard an indescribable, loud scream.

“She didn't scream for help. She just howled like a dog. She was terribly scared,” he recalls.

Billiter, who is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 270 pounds, said the girl's screams caused him to stop watching and intervene.

“I ran out, grabbed the guy and he told me, 'I'm her father.' The guy was between 25 and 30 and there was no way he was her father,” he recalled.

“I pulled him out, held him and told him, 'Hey, you're not going anywhere with this girl. We're calling the police and that's that,'” said Billiter.

The man drove away. Neighbors called 911 and wrote down the man's license plate number.

VIDEO: New police footage shows attempted kidnapping in Sterling Heights

VIDEO: New police footage shows child abduction

Investigators said the man was caught an hour later in Sterling Heights after attempting to kidnap a 7-year-old girl.

Alecia Swejkoski was in Clinton River Park with her 8-year-old son and 7-year-old niece on Tuesday when a stranger stopped his car between her and the children – and got out.

“He came right up behind her. He got out of his car, turned around, grabbed her and then tried to get into the passenger seat and we met right in the middle,” she said.

VIDEO: Family describes the horror when a man grabbed a seven-year-old in Sterling Heights

Family describes the horror when a man grabbed a seven-year-old in Sterling Heights

The man tried to drive away with her niece. Alecia hung out the window of the car, fought with the man, was beaten, and told her niece to run away, refusing to let him drive away with her.

“I tell her to get out, get out. It was crazy,” she said.

Scott Van Luven was on his way home from work when he saw Alecia fighting with the driver and her 8-year-old son, who also tried to stop the man, being hit by the car.

Scott said he got the suspect to put his vehicle into park.

“I literally pulled him out of the car and just held him against his car until the police came,” he said.