The victim was walking home from a store in River Forest when police say the man forced her into his car. She fought back, and quick action by neighbors helped lead to an arrest.
Jakob Hugar, 8, first heard the screams coming from the street. Without knowing what it was, he knew to get help.
"I heard screaming and then I saw my mom go outside and check it out," said Jakob Hugar.
They saw a woman struggling with a man by his car in the street. They went inside to call 911, and Tony Hugar ran outside to try to help. He found a 37-year-old woman trying to escape from a large man who had her pinned inside the car.
"I just thought I'd make enough noise and hopefully distract him a little bit," said Tony Hugar.
Police say Tracey Taylor, 44, lured the woman to his car as she walked home. He grabbed her and was attempting to drive away with her, but she fought him off. Police say she may have saved herself from serious harm.
"She struggled and fought every way she could think of... she turned the car off several times... did everything she could to prevent him from taking her," said River Forest Deputy Police Chief Craig Rutz.
Taylor is a registered sex offender who was on parole after serving time for rape. He is charged with attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, attempted robbery, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint.
"It's a very family-friendly area and to know that something like this happened makes you a little bit more cautious whenever you walk down the street," said neighbor Lissa Christman.
Police say the victim suffered only minor injuries and was treated and released at a local hospital.
Taylor remains in police custody ahead of a bond hearing Saturday morning.
