SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade Police are searching for a man who tried to abduct a 9-year-old girl in Southwest Miami-Dade.
According to police, the victim was walking home at around 8 p.m. on Aug. 22 when an unknown man in a car stopped, grabbed her arm and told her, “Get in the van. I’ll take you home.”
The girl started to run away as the man reached for her. The subject then fled the scene, but not before she got a good look at his vehicle, which she described as a white van with a picture of pink lollipops with white swirls on the side.
The incident took place in the area of Southwest 10th Street and 129th Place, steps away from a park.
Area resident Vivian Ruiz said she’s seen the man at the grocery store around the corner.
“Yes, I recognized that he was sitting at Extra, by the side, having a — that was yesterday afternoon. Yes, I recognize him,” she said.
Police have since released a computer-generated sketch of the subject. Detectives said he had short black hair, a black beard and was wearing a black shirt at the time of the incident.
Officers patrolled the neighborhood and spoke with area residents, Wednesday night.
As their search continues, neighbors had words of advice for local families.
“Stick around your children, know where they are going, their whereabouts, all of that,” said area resident Istkandart Acevedo, “because you never know who’s who around the neighborhood.”
“At that age, the way things are in this, in Miami, crazy, you should not let your children out at all times. They gotta be supervised all times,” said Ruiz.
If you have any information on this man’s identity or whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Police at 305-715-3300 or 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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