Usually this newspaper refrains from covering events in Isle of Wight County beyond the courthouse, because our readership doesn’t extend into the northern portion of the county. But the report about an 11-year-old Carrollton girl who was abducted from a bus stop Wednesday and sexually assaulted at least merits comment. Such an incident could just have easily happened elsewhere in Western Tidewater. Worse, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for such a crime to still take place closer to home.

We trust Sheriff Mark Marshall and his office to do all they can to find the reported suspect and bring him to justice. Further, readers are urged to be on the lookout for the person, described as an older white man with a blondish-gray beard, blond hair, blue eyes, cut-off jean shorts and tennis shoes who was driving a white Chevy coupe.

So far it appears the suspect and victim did not know one another. Regardless, the man is an opportunist in the worst sense of the word.

Tragically, the damage has been done to the girl and her family. We offer our sincere condolences to them. Who knows how much time will go by before they can regain some measure of security?

We suggest parents everywhere immediately look for ways they think best to prevent such horrific acts against their own children. School PTAs and Neighborhood Watch programs could be two excellent sources for exchanging ideas then making and carrying out definite plans.

Marshall reportedly said about the crime, “I think this is a wake-up call for all of us, as law enforcement, as parents, as students.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).