ROCK FALLS – Police are on the hunt for a former Cook County man who, they say, abducted his girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter.

Police have issued statewide and national bulletins, asking other agencies to be on the lookout for the man, known locally as Eric L. Smith, 43, and Joy C. Haahr, whom they say he picked up at Rock Falls Middle School Monday morning.

A photo and description of Joy also has been posted on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Web site.

Joy’s mother, Mary, who dated Smith “off and on,” called police Monday night, when Joy didn’t come home from school, and said she had run away, Rock Falls Police Chief Mike Kuelper said. The case was considered an abduction after investigators talked with Joy’s classmates and friends Wednesday.

Smith occasionally picked up Joy at school, students said, and they said they saw her leave with him Monday, Kuelper said.

Several said Joy had talked about “taking a trip” to California or Louisiana with Smith, Kuelper said.

Smith, whose real name is Eric Sterson, was paroled from Dixon Correctional Center in March 2008 after serving 12 years for possession of a stolen car, a Cook County case. He also has served prison time for burglary and theft in cases that date back to 1987, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

He was living at the Whiteside Motel, 1012 E. Route 30, in Rock Falls under the name of Eric Smith.

His other aliases include James L. Ramirez and Thomas Halfman.

He may have a driver’s license in the name of Eric L. Smith, Kuepler said.

The department is working with IDOC’s parole division to find out more about him, Kuelper added.

The Sterling Police Department also has issued a $100,000 warrant for him, under the name Smith, for burglary to a building.

To report a tip on missing girl

Joy C. Haahr, 13, of Rock Falls, is 5 feet 3 inches tall, 100 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, a black-and-red-striped sweater and blue jeans; she also has a left ear piercing, police said.

Eric L. Smith, whose real name is Eric Sterson, her suspected abductor, is 5 feet 9 inches, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has several aliases, including James L. Ramirez and Thomas Halfman.

Joy and her mother, Mary Haahr, know him as Eric Smith.

They may be driving to California or Louisiana in his red 1996 Ford F-150 pickup, Illinois license plate number 87086U.

Anyone with information is asked to call Rock Falls police, 815-625-2151, or Whiteside County Crime Stoppers, 815-625-7867.