Dominic Anthony Sacco, a 27-year-old man in Strongsville, is behind bars after police say he grabbed a 15-year-old girl waiting for her school bus Friday morning.
According to the Strongsville Police Department, officers responded to Fair Road around 6:40 a.m. after the teen said that she was approached and grabbed by Sacco.
Police said the girl pulled away from Sacco and went back inside her house, and he left the scene, police said. Officers tracked the man down at another home about a quarter mile away from the girl's house.
Sacco is being held at the Strongsville Police Department and has been charged with abduction.
Strongsville Superintendent Dr. Cameron M. Ryba sent a message to parents after the incident Friday afternoon:
Dear Parents:
This morning, on Fair Road, a Strongsville High School student experienced a serious safety situation when a 27-year-old man approached and grabbed her. The student acted quickly to get away, returned safely to her home, and called the police. Thanks to her courage and the swift response of the Strongsville Police Department, the man was identified and arrested.
As both a Superintendent and a father, I am deeply concerned by this incident. I am extremely grateful for the student’s strength in protecting herself and for the immediate actions of the Strongsville Police Department to ensure her safety and to quickly arrest this individual.
As a community, we will continue working together to ensure this remains an isolated incident. Please take a moment to talk with your children, not to create fear, but to help them build awareness and confidence about what to do if they ever feel unsafe. We will remain in close partnership with the Strongsville Police Department and will share updates, resources, and any additional safety measures as more information becomes available. Together, we remain committed to providing a safe environment for all of our students.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can provide any support to your children or your family at this time.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Zaki Hazou at 44-580-3255.
Community Reaction
Following Friday’s incident, we spoke to a Strongsville Middle School student who told us the attempted abduction is unsettling, especially since she takes the bus to school.
“Is some grown man going to come after me and pull me by my backpack and pull me? Like it’s scary,” said Alayna. “If I am going on a bike ride, if I’m going on a walk, is the same thing going to happen to me?”
Alayna said it’s a relief to know the suspect has been arrested as she thinks about her safety.
Meanwhile, parents like Edwin Luna encourage people to pay attention to their surroundings.
“Simple reminder that that can happen anywhere really,” said Luna. “Sometimes, we like to relax and put down our guards but just be vigilant I think is the best way to help avoid a situation like this.”
