East Lansing police received a call at 12:45 a.m. Friday reporting an attempted abduction near Albert Avenue and Milford Street, according to a police report.

Earlier in the night, a man described to be in his early twenties allegedly approached a female, grabbed her and placed a cloth soaked with some type of liquid over her mouth, according to the report.

East Lansing police Sgt. William Mitchell said the suspect came up from behind the victim, who was walking east on Albert Avenue, and was probably attempting to knock her out.

The victim screamed as a vehicle drove by and was able to scare off the suspect and stop the attempted abduction, according to the report.

The suspect was last seen running west on the north side of Albert Avenue.

He is described as being 5-feet-8-inches tall and weighing between 160-180 pounds.

He was last seen wearing light or khaki-colored shorts, a dark-colored shirt and a baseball hat and might have had facial hair.

This isn't the first near-abduction in recent memory. Last July a 19-year-old female student was sexually assaulted on the 300 block of Division Street, while two other teenage girls were nearly abducted.

Police said there are ways to avoid such an attack.

"If possible, travel with somebody else or a friend," Mitchell said.

"The biggest thing is just be aware of your surroundings and to not be so preoccupied in your cell phone or reading a book or keeping your eyes down," Mitchell said.

"Just be alert and be confident.

"Show you are confident as you walk so you don't look like a victim."

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have information regarding it should contact the East Lansing Police Department at (517) 337-2599.