By Associated Press - Thursday, April 7, 2016

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - Prosecutors say a man accused of trying to kidnap three teenage girls on their way to school in Worcester had several items including ropes, pliers and duct tape in his backpack when arrested.

A judge on Thursday set bail at $500,000 for 22-year-old Fredy Cruz, of Worcester.

On Wednesday, police said two 15-year-old girls and a 14-year-old reported being approached and grabbed at by a man they didn’t know.

Police said Cruz was arrested on Thursday morning after being spotted riding a bicycle in the area where the incident occurred the previous day.

The Telegram of Worcester (https://bit.ly/1qwHG31 ) reports Cruz pleaded not guilty to several charges at his arraignment.

A defense lawyer said Cruz was “shell-shocked” by the allegations and noted that police initially described the suspect as a man in his 50s.

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Information from: Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Mass.), https://www.telegram.com

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