MIAMI (WSVN) - Police released a sketch of a man believed to be involved in an attempted kidnapping in Miami.
City of Miami Police investigators said a 12-year-old girl was walking in the area of Northwest First Avenue and 57th Street at around 6 a.m. on April 12 when a man crossed the street and approached her.
The victim, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the incident happened in a split-second as she walked to the bus.
The victim said, “I was screaming. I was like, ‘Stop!’ [He] just said, ‘Don’t scream.'”
According to neighbor Lesby Cantillano, the girl’s mother had gone back inside the home to grab something.
“The mother was about to take her daughter to school and left something behind,” Cantillano said. “The little girl went ahead of her mother, and that’s when the incident occurred.”
Investigators said the girl took off walking east on Northwest 57th Street, and when she made a turn on Northwest First Avenue, that’s when the subject made his move.
“In that video, you can see where the subject stops in the middle of the street, and you see he attempts to ask her a few questions,” City of Miami Police spokesperson Kiara Delva said.
The girl ignored the man and continued to walk away from him as he attempted to ask her multiple questions.
“I was running away, but this bookbag is heavy,” the victim said. “He tells me that like, ‘Where are you going?’ and I told him the wrong direction by accident, but whatever. Oh, my gosh, he’s running towards me. I need to run away. Gotta do something, at least, because I don’t know what he’s gonna do, and I think from my perspective he might be bad.”
“That subject then ran behind her and attempted to pull her towards him,” Delva said. “[He] pulled her by her hair, and her waist, and attempted to take that female and abduct her.”
The victim was able to get away from his hold and fled from the scene.
“He pulled my hair, and he grabbed me by the waist, and I was thinking just trying to push away, and I did escape, so I ran back home crying and shocked,” the victim said.
Authorities said the man they are searching for has a slim build, is approximately 20 to 30 years of age and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts.
“That victim managed to break free, unharmed. However, we don’t want that subject to strike again,” Delva said.
If you have any information on this attempted abduction, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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