A 30-year-old Maryland man was arrested after he allegedly tried to kidnap a middle school student at a bus stop Monday morning — and was thwarted by other students waiting at the bus stop.

Jamaal Germany “grabbed the child and pulled them toward an apartment building,” Montgomery County police said in a statement. But several other students intervened, and the victim broke free, unharmed. The students boarded the bus and reported the incident once they got to school.

The community engagement officer responded to the report at Redland Middle School, and Germany was later arrested.

“It was scary,” said a neighbor who asked for anonymity told WJLA. “It’s really dark in the morning when they leave out here, and you never know. You just never know. It doesn’t matter what area you live in.”

Montgomery County Public Schools sent a letter to families of students at Redland, Resnik Elementary, and Magruder High schools — which all use the bus stop where the incident took place — about the incident. saying there would “be an increased security presence” at the bus stop even though the suspect was already in jail. The district said counseling was also available.

Police said that Germany and the victim were not acquainted, but neighbors said that the suspect has been trying similar antics in recent days.

“I have a high school student, and she catches the bus early in the morning, and apparently he was at the bus stop last week doing the same thing,” one anonymous neighbor told WJLA.

Three other neighbors, all of whom asked to be anonymous for fear of retaliation, said he had threatened and yelled at them and tried kicking in door.

Germany’s family did not want to comment.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.

[Featured image: Jamaal Germany/Montgomery County Police Department]