Skiatook Man Arrested For Grabbing Girl On Bicycle

Skiatook Police arrested a man they say tried to abduct an 11-year-old girl who was riding a bicycle through town.

Rick Alan Blackwell, 56, is in Tulsa County Jail on complaints of public intoxication and kidnapping.

Police Chief John Lawrence says the young girl was riding near 2nd Street and Broadway Saturday evening. Blackwell, who was also riding a bike, approached her and asked if she'd like to race, Lawrence said. He then grabbed the girl's arm and tried to put his hand over her mouth.

She was able to escape, and her mother contacted police.

As Officer Hank Guilfoyle was taking the report from the victim, another Skiatook officer arrested Blackwell for public intoxication. The girl identified Blackwell in a photo lineup, according to the arrest report.

Lawrence said the department has had dealings with Blackwell before, but not for anything like abduction.