He took him in his arms and tried to put him in the car, the Albanian is accused of attempting to kidnap a 7-year-old (NAME)

A 23-year-old Albanian man from Shelby Township was charged Thursday in connection with the alleged attempted kidnapping of a 7-year-old girl in Sterling Heights and a 15-year-old girl in Clinton Township.

Andy Bala, 23, is charged with attempted child abduction, which is punishable by up to life in prison if convicted.

Bala was arrested by Sterling Heights Police on Tuesday after allegedly approaching a 7-year-old girl in Clinton North River Park, pulled her off her bike and put her in his car, according to the Macomb County District Attorney's Office.

An hour earlier, witnesses called 911 after seeing a man forcing a 15-year-old girl into a white sedan on Clinton River Road east of Hayes, the Clinton Township Police Department said in a press release. The girl was walking on Clinton River Road.

He is suspected of grabbing the girl's head and neck and trying to put her in his car, according to prosecutors. A resident intervened to help the girl escape and alerted other residents, who called 911, according to prosecutors.

Sterling Heights County Circuit Court Judge Michael Piatek sent Balan to the Macomb County Jail.

The 7-year-old girl's aunt, assisted by citizens, have clashed with Bala, according to Sterling Heights police.

"Due to the excellent work by our 7-year-old aunt, our volunteer and effective national who arrived quickly on the scene, a very dangerous suspect was taken off the road, and a 7-year-old girl was rescued," said Capt. Mario Bastianelli, public information officer for the Sterling Heights Police Department.

Attorney Mark Laws asked for $5 million bail, but Bala's lawyer said it would be excessive and unaffordable as he already had a $2 million bond in Clinton Township.

Laws said he had concerns Bala could leave, as he had travelled to Albania three times in the past six years.