Teenage girl tackled in dark alley during robbery attempt

As she walked in a dark alley, a teenage girl was knocked to the ground Saturday during an apparent robbery attempt, police said.

Police responded around 12:05 a.m. to the alley between Camburn Court and 15th Street SE when the incident was reported. The 17-year-old victim was not seriously hurt in the incident and declined medical attention.

According to a police report, the girl had just got home and noticed a man nearby. As she was walking in the alley, she heard footsteps coming quickly and started to run. She told police the man tackled her, and she tried to scream.

Sgt. Denni Randall said the man reportedly put his hand over the girl's mouth, told her to quit screaming and demanded money.

The girl's boyfriend had been walking to her house and came running when he heard the scream. He saw the suspect on top of his girlfriend, and chased him toward Mercy Medical Center, police said, before losing sight of him between houses.

Randall said the suspect did not get any money or property before running away.

The suspect is described as a black man in his early 20s, standing around 5-foot-7. He was wearing dark pants and a blue hooded sweat shirt.

No arrests had been made as of Monday afternoon. An investigation was continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Cedar Rapids police at (319) 286-5491 or Linn County CrimeStoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME.