A man reportedly tried to lure away a 12-year-old girl in Maplewood on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The girl was walking home from school when the man approached her about 2:30 p.m. on Manton Street near Robinhood Park, according to a news release. The man parked his large white van on the side of the road, got out and told the girl to go with him.

The girl ran south on Manton Street toward the Gladstone Community Center at Frost Avenue and Manton Street about a block away, police said. The man followed her in his van but turned around and drove north on Manton Street when the girl reached the community center.

The suspect is described as a white man, 5-8 to 6 feet tall, thin, middle-aged, with light colored hair that is balding. He wore a white T-shirt, blue jeans and glasses.

The van is described as a large, possibly 15-passenger type van. No license plate numbers were available.

Deputy Chief Dave Kvam said no other cases have been reported.

Anyone with information can call Maplewood police during business hours at 651-249-2600, or the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center after hours at 651-767-0640.

CHAO XIONG