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Patricia Sampson said police were everywhere Sunday, when a 14-year-old girl was attacked by a stranger in their neighborhood park.
"They realized that he was on top of her and that she was screaming help," she said.
Police said Mitchell Selph, 26, approached a group of teenage girls, punched one of them in the face and tried to steal her cellphone.
"I figured he was probably on drugs," said Sampson. "There's no other reason to walk up to a young lady and just punch her in the face."
When the girl wouldn't let go of her phone, police said Selph tried to drag her into the woods off Hammond Boulevard.
An off-duty police officer who was fishing in a nearby pond, and another neighbor who was walking, by heard her screams. They chased Selph to Crystal Springs Elementary School and pinned him to the ground until police arrived.
Sampson called it comforting that her neighbors were so willing to help.
"If something goes wrong, I know there's people here," she said..
Selph is now behind bars charged with robbery, kidnapping, child abuse and resisting arrest.
Officer David Busekrus is the off-duty officer who helped save the girl. He is a 12-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
"They realized that he was on top of her and that she was screaming help," she said.
Police said Mitchell Selph, 26, approached a group of teenage girls, punched one of them in the face and tried to steal her cellphone.
"I figured he was probably on drugs," said Sampson. "There's no other reason to walk up to a young lady and just punch her in the face."
When the girl wouldn't let go of her phone, police said Selph tried to drag her into the woods off Hammond Boulevard.
An off-duty police officer who was fishing in a nearby pond, and another neighbor who was walking, by heard her screams. They chased Selph to Crystal Springs Elementary School and pinned him to the ground until police arrived.
Sampson called it comforting that her neighbors were so willing to help.
"If something goes wrong, I know there's people here," she said..
Selph is now behind bars charged with robbery, kidnapping, child abuse and resisting arrest.
Officer David Busekrus is the off-duty officer who helped save the girl. He is a 12-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
WJAX
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