Charges: Suspect in attempted abduction of 7-year-old girl in Fridley says he 'had a problem'

FRIDLEY, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Coon Rapids, Minnesota man was charged Friday in connection with the attempted abduction of a 7-year-old girl in Fridley last week. 

Aaron Johnson, 28, faces two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of false imprisonment. 

According to the charges, on the afternoon of July 26, Johnson stopped his red car by two young girls who were riding their bikes in the area of 7300 Taylor Street Northeast. 

The victim, a 7-year-old, told police Johnson wanted her to touch his genitals and when she refused to come closer to him, he grabbed her by the arm and tried to pull her into his car. She claimed he made her touch him.  

A neighbor, witnessed the encounter and ran towards the car, scaring Johnson off. He reported drove off with the car door still open.

The neighbor, Tom Procai, told FOX 9 earlier this week that he saw the two girls riding their bikes down the street in front of his house followed by a red car and did not think anything of it. But, when he noticed only one of them ride back, he suspected something was wrong. 

“I see this girl kind of hanging behind her bike, trying to fight this guy off...I come scooting out and he scooted out and almost ran over a little old lady," he said.

The incident was captured on neighborhood surveillance cameras. 

Police arrested Johnson on Wednesday. In an interview with investigators, he admitted he “had a problem” and that he guided a young girl’s hand to touch his genitals, the charges say. 

Johnson made his first court appearance Friday. A judge set his bail at $500,000. His next hearing is set for Aug. 15.