DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have released a sketch of a man who tried to lure a child into his van in Davie.
According to officials, the man was driving a van when he approached a 10-year-old girl who was riding her bike home from school, near Southwest 38th Court and 61st Avenue, around 4 p.m.
Police said the man then offered the girl money to get inside the van.
“The gentleman called out to her and offered her $20. She said, ‘No, no, no,’ and rode her bike away,” said Davie Police Sgt. Mark Leone.
The girl then went to get help, but by the time police arrived, the man in the van was gone.
The van is described as an early 2000s blue Dodge Caravan with a dent on the driver’s side door.
The girl described the driver as a Hispanic male approximately 30 to 40 years of age with a beard and short hair.
“Oh, yeah! I’ve seen that guy! Yeah, that’s him! Oh yeah, that’s him!” said neighbor Chelsea Sherwood.
Sherwood said she’s seen the man before, and he’s always given her a bad feeling.
“He drives past my house, and he like stares at me, and it’s so weird. He’s such a creeper,” said Sherwood. “I know it’s his van, because when he drives by, it’s blue, and it has the dent in the driver door.”
Other residents said that while they haven’t seen the man, they do want him caught. “It’s really bad. I mean, what do I think? It’s very bad. They should arrest the guy and put him in jail for long time,” said Sam Haddad. “It’s really upsetting and disturbing. Disturbed the family, and now they’re scared about the children.”
“Parents should be aware, cautious and tell their children to walk in pairs,” said resident Dawn Lemoine.
She said she will be keeping her children close. “Parents should always be proactive about teaching their kids how to respond to that type of circumstance.”
While the search continues, Sherwood said she and her husband are looking for another place to live.
“I don’t feel safe around here anymore, because my biggest fear growing up was to get kidnapped or something like that, and that basically almost happened right here,” said Sherwood.
Davie Police are also warning parents that if you live in this area, remind your children about the dangers of strangers.
If you have any information on this incident, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.