They say 24-year-old Mario Anthony Booker walked up to the girl on her way to school. He allegedly displayed a pocket knife and grabbed her.
The girl managed to break away, run to the school and call 911. Police arrested Booker a short time later about a block away.
They say the victim identified him as the man who tried to attack her.
"It's very alarming because this is just a random act of a person intent on doing ill will to someone else, " said Bensenville Police Chief Frank Kosman.
Booker is from Chicago but works in Bensenville.
He is charged with four felonies including attempted aggravated kidnapping and is due in court for a bond hearing Saturday morning.
