A man tried to abduct a child from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum earlier this month, according to U.S. Park Police.
A group was leaving through the north entrance of the museum March 3 when a man grabbed the hand of the child, police said. After he walked a few steps with the child, one of the chaperones noticed and yelled at him to leave the child alone, authorities said.
The man is believed to have boarded a white shuttle bus in the 600 block of Jefferson Drive SW.
On Tuesday, police released two videos showing two men they want the public to help identify. The men were seen talking to each other inside the museum.
"The first man had dark hair, but witnesses describe it as dark hair with light roots, like it was dyed," Park Police Sgt. Anna Rose said. "He had what is described as an Eastern European accent. The second man was older, heavier, and had white or gray hair."
The surveillance images have a strong resemblance to a similar incident last month at the Richmond Science Center in Virginia. A 9-year-old girl said a stranger touched her, News4's Jackie Bensen reported. Police described the contact as inappropriate.
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Police are asking any bus companies that had a dropoff or pickup between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on March 3 to call police. If you have any information regarding this incident, call the U.S. Park Police 202-610-8737 and reference case number 16-19402. You may also submit a tip via the U.S. Park Police website and may remain anonymous.
