Teen fights off attackers

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Police are looking for two men who attacked a teenager as she walked home from her bus stop.

The men probably weren't anticipating a fight from the 14-year-old girl, but when she resisted, they gave up, jumped into their car and drove away.

Yesterday afternoon, the girl got off at her bus stop at 200 South and 600 West, crossed to the north side of the street and started walking. She noticed a red car pass her, then turn around and pull up on the curb.

Two men jumped out of the car and attacked her, but she didn't go down easily.

"We have no indication she has any prior connection with them, or what. She does not know who these suspects are," said Salt Lake City police Sgt. Fred Ross.

The suspects were bold enough to assault a young girl in broad daylight. Police say one man grabbed her by the hair and punched her, while the other tried to grab her ankle. That's when she kicked the man in the face.

"They weren't anticipating, and she surprised them, certainly. She did a fantastic job of fending them off," Ross said.

At that same time, another car pulled up to the scene. Police say the suspects didn't want to get caught, so they got back in their car and fled eastbound. The girl ran home and called police.

"We're hoping that somebody may have seen it [and] was a little apprehensive at the time and could call us and give us some further description on the suspects and the vehicle," Ross said.

Officers say the girl had scratches, and her clothes were torn. Today, investigators interviewed her again just to clarify her story.

"Obviously, if you're assaulted on the street by two adult males, yes, she was going to be very traumatized, and her recollection may not have been perfect at that time," Ross said.

Police don't know if the suspects' intention was to kidnap the teen.

The men were driving an older red four-door vehicle with Ski Utah plates that had the numbers 7 and 9. Both looked to be in their 30s.

If you have any information, please call Salt Lake City police at (801)799-3000.

E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com