Quick-Thinking Girl, 11, Thwarts Kidnapping by Kicking Accused Abductor in the Groin

An astute young girl in Washington managed to escape from a man allegedly trying to kidnap her after showing off her impressive self-defense skills.

The 11-year-old child had been out playing soccer with friends on Monday, Dec. 15, in Vancouver, a city located near the Oregon border just 10 miles north of Portland, according to reports from NBC affiliate KTVB, Oregon Live and ABC affiliate KATU.

The Vancouver Police Department quickly got to work and later that same day arrested Jerson Hartman and booked him into custody on charges of second-degree attempted kidnapping and second-degree attempted robbery, according to records obtained by PEOPLE.

Hartman pled not guilty to those charges at his initial arraignment this week and is being held on a $50,000 bail.

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The young victim in the case was returning home after her soccer game with friends at around 5:30 p.m. local time when a man wearing a ski mask grabbed her by the elbow and said “come here little girl,” according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Oregon Live.

In her interview with police, the girl noted that she felt “uncomfortable” as soon as she saw the masked man walking towards her that evening, KTVB reported.

The girl screamed for help, but the man instructed her to “shut up,” according to the affidavit,  and then snatched her cell phone so that she could not alert anyone.

At this point, the man was forcefully grabbing the girl’s arm according to the affidavit, so she attempted to wrestle away from him before opting to instead swiftly kick him in the groin, KATU reported.

She then fled to a friend’s apartment and alerted police, who noted in the affidavit that when they arrived, the girl still had red marks on her wrists.

Police apprehended Hartman soon after and the young girl identified the 31-year-old from Twin Falls, Ida. as the man who allegedly tried to kidnap her.

Court records reviewed by PEOPLE show that Hartman will be back in court on Jan. 20 and his trial is set to start on Feb. 9.